Cameroon

Ice cream is one of the most popular snack foods in Cameroon, not only because of its indulgence appeal but also due to the hot climate. However, informal sales of cheaper unpackaged varieties by roadside vendors still account for a large share of…

The number of households is set to increase moderately, while the average household size will shrink in Cameroon over 2023-2028. Couples with children will remain the dominant household type but the fastest household expenditure growth is forecast to…

Cameroon was not as affected by the energy crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine as many other countries. Rising global energy prices in 2022 gave a boost to government coffers and helped stabilise the economy. However, ongoing civil conflict, as…

Spray/aerosol insecticides remained the most popular format in insecticides in Cameroon in 2023, primarily owing to their user-friendly application, and swift and precise pest control which targets a broad spectrum of insects. The convenience of…

Home care was experiencing a stabilisation effect in Cameroon in 2023, following a substantial escalation in unit prices in 2022, primarily attributed to inflationary pressures and supply chain challenges, notably affecting categories such as bar…

Herbal/traditional product registered a marginal fall in current value sales in 2023. While the older generation have always favoured herbal/traditional products, among the younger generation, there exists a level of scepticism regarding their…

Hair breakages and scalp issues are some of the leading hair problems in Cameroon, which is why demand for conditioners and shampoos is on a growth trajectory. For scalp issues, dandruff is the main problem with the hot tropical climate in the…

The latter part of the review period saw a number of chewing gum manufacturers in Cameroon move to address longstanding consumer complaints about quality standards by reformulating established brands and launching new varieties with softer textures…

France-based multinational Carrefour continued to expand its global footprint during 2022 with the opening of its first hypermarket in Cameroon. This store is located at the PlaYce shopping centre in Yaoundé and it was inaugurated during July 2022.…

From modern grocery retailers to small local grocers, imported fragrances continue to dominate shelves. Despite the entry of more “Made in Cameroon” brands in the market such as Chouquette, Les Essences Bantu, Mboa, Extraits, Parfums Bonheur and…

Energy drinks is expected to register healthy volume growth in 2023, though from a low base. The demand for energy drinks as a booster to physical and cognitive performance is driving the growth of energy drinks. Energy drinks are particularly…

With significant price pressures on palm oil, the government agreed an official price with industry stakeholders in 2022, of FCFA1,500 per litre, though there has had to be a degree of rationing. Discussion are still ongoing regarding Cameroon’s…

The report examines the economic landscape of Cameroon and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade and government finance. The economy expanded in real terms in 2023, driven by exports, private consumption, investments.…

Packaged fresh milk remains a niche product in Cameroon for several reasons. One of the primary factors is the absence of a dairy processing plant, despite the country’s annual production of over 270,000 tonnes of fresh cow milk. It is important to…

The Douala in Cameroon report provides comprehensive city level information benchmarked against other cities in the country and region. The report includes historic data and forecasts on city population, consumer expenditure, digital penetration,…

Hand dishwashing continued to dominate in dishwashing in Cameroon in 2023, with automatic dishwashing remaining conspicuously absent. Handwashing dishes has traditionally been the norm in the country and continues to be the prevailing practice among…

Multi-level level marketing remained the most popular form of direct selling in Cameroon in 2022 as the retailing category recorded a positive performance for the second year in a row. However, this was not enough for category sales to recover to…

Poor drinking water is leading to serious digestion problems, with consumers often for instance suffering from diarrhoea, due to the substandard water supply. This is being further exacerbated by climate change, which is leading to increased water…

The growth of dietary supplements decelerated due to a shift in consumer behaviour back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns, characterised by reduced emphasis on vitamins and dietary supplements. Additionally, the escalating cost of living is placed…

Skin diseases across all age groups continues to drive growth for dermatologicals. Skin diseases are common in rural areas due to poor hygiene and in urban areas due to overcrowded neighbourhoods, with many having no access to proper sanitary…

The depilatories category is slowly evolving though it remains fairly niche. Just like the category for men, razors continue to be the primary form of hair removal for most women in Cameroon. They are widely available, affordable and easy to use.…

The hot tropical climate in Cameroon especially during the dry season leads to a lot of sweating. Temperatures average around 36 degrees on a daily basis during the dry season, with this season lasting for around six months. Sweating is thus…

According to the National Institute of Statistics, the general price increase of dairy products such as milk, cheese, and eggs reached 10.7% in 2022 and is expected to remain in the double digits by the end of the 2023 fiscal year. This increase is…

Locally preferred alternatives, like consuming honey, ginger, and lemon infusions, enjoy widespread popularity among the locals. In households with lower incomes, natural remedies often take precedence as the initial choice before resorting to…

Cameroon was not as affected by the energy crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine as many other countries. Rising global energy prices in 2022 gave a boost to government coffers and helped stabilise the economy. However, ongoing civil conflict, as…

Cameroon was not as affected by the energy crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine as many other countries. Rising global energy prices gave a boost to government coffers and helped stabilise the economy. However, ongoing civil conflict, as well as…

Concentrates, and in particular liquid concentrates, rank among the highest-priced beverages in Cameroon. Moreover, imported variants command an even higher price point compared to local counterparts, averaging nearly 1.5 times more. This elevated…

The commodities country overview provides comprehensive data on production, consumption and price trends on key commodities markets. The commodities overview in Cambodia covers production and consumption trends in agricultural commodities, energy…

In the nail products category, nail polish experienced the strongest growth while nail treatments/strengthener recorded the lowest demand. Innovation continues to drive growth in nail products. Nail polish has evolved. Traditional nail polish takes a…

There is expected to be steep volume decline in coffee sales in 2023, and more specifically instant coffee, which accounts for most volume sales. With consumers being highly price sensitive in 2023, many consumers buy 20g sachets, which mean a…

In 2023, cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco in Cameroon recorded steady growth in volume terms. Despite the ban imposed by the Ministry of Trade in 2022, pipe tobacco continued to enjoy demand in 2023, primarily fuelled by its association with…

In 2023, amidst persistent inflationary pressures, consumer preferences in the area of cigarettes underwent a notable transformation in Cameroon. Affordability emerged as a paramount concern, prompting a discernible shift towards economically priced…

In the first quarter of 2023, Cameroon’s National Cocoa and Coffee Board revised the maximum price of cacao beans upwards twice, bringing it to XAF1,290 per kg. These changes were attributed to a spike in demand caused by the entry of two new…

Cheese consumption in Cameroon is significantly limited, primarily due to cultural factors. Despite its widespread popularity and versatility in many regions around the world, cheese has struggled to establish itself in Cameroon. The country’s…

Carbonates is expected to register moderate growth in volume sales in 2023, partly supported by continuing population growth. In addition, prices have been stable and this has supported volume growth. Non-cola carbonates, and in particular orange…

Strong rates of natural increase will drive rapid population expansion in Cameroon in 2021-2040, despite negative net migration over the timeframe. Despite following an ageing trend, Cameroon will remain an extremely young country due to its high…

For several decades, palm oil and vegetable oil have held their position as the primary choice for edible oil in Cameroonian cuisine and it is unlikely to change unless a remarkable transformation takes place. The dominance of these two oils has…

This report assesses the business environment in Cameroon, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

Value sales for breakfast cereal continue to be relatively low in Cameroon, and in 2023, with consumers prioritising essentials, as purchasing power continues to decline, breakfast cereal is expected to register a significant fall in volume sales.…

Bottled water is the most popular soft drink in Cameroon. Unstable supply of clean drinking water ensures continuing demand for bottled water. As such, in 2023, bottled water is expected to register double-digit volume growth, as continuing…

Bleach remained a consolidated category in Cameroon in 2023, with La Croix from Colgate-Palmolive Co holding just under half of all share. Indeed, this historical dominance has been steadfast, owing to the brand's well-established presence and the…

In 2023, beer in Cameroon faced significant challenges due to a substantial increase in costs. Malt prices surged by over 50%, corn grits by 35%, good-tasting alcohol by 18%, and energy costs by 16% compared to 2022. Brewers also faced hurdles as the…

The beauty and personal care market in Cameroon has great economic potential. However, some sectors, such as colour cosmetics are still heavily characterised by imported products. Imports of colour cosmetics and skin care products in volume terms…

Sales of hand sanitisers plunged in both value and volume terms in 2022 as most Cameroonians now consider them unnecessary or of low priority post pandemic. The prices of hand sanitisers surged as leading players cut down production in response to…

While baked goods is largely dependent on imported wheat, efforts are being made to provide local alternatives in order to stabilise prices and protect Cameroon from global uncertainties. As such local ingredients such as cassava, plantains, yams,…

The Cameroonian market for baby food has not escaped the detrimental effects of inflation. The surge in fuel prices, along with substantial increases in the cost of milk and wheat, has been instrumental in driving up the prices of baby food. Both…

Sensitisation campaigns of new mothers post birth and increased access to information on infant care is having an impact on the way most parents take care of their infants. There is a growing shift from the use of alternative cleaning techniques such…

AFH hygiene in Cameroon in 2023 remains non-existent, whilst AFH tissue is impacted by a lack of manufacturing infrastructure and restricted distribution channels for products. This situation continues to create a challenging environment for the…

Consumers are increasingly embracing self-medication, especially for minor illnesses, and this contributed to modest growth in 2023, as well as continuing population growth. Analgesics have achieved a substantial penetration rate in Cameroon,…

Beer remains the most dominant product area in alcoholic drinks in Cameroon, deeply embedded in the social and cultural fabric of the country, driven by high consumption rates during social gatherings and public festivities. The beer market, however,…