On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the leader of the Groupement des Entreprises du Cameroun (GECAM) presented a sobering assessment of the obstacles currently stifling national economic progress.
The head of GECAM pointed out that economic expansion in Cameroun decelerated to 3.1% in 2025, down from 3.5% the previous year. This trajectory, he warned, is insufficient to meet the country’s ambitious emergence goals set for 2035. When viewed through a regional lens, the figures are even more concerning; while Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to grow at an average of 4.5% and the UEMOA zone reaches 6.4%, the Cemac region lags at 2.6%, despite Cameroun maintaining its position as the zone’s primary economic engine.
A major factor in this sluggish performance is the continued decline of the oil industry. The hydrocarbon sector saw a contraction of -6.9% in 2025, following a nearly 10% drop in 2024. These figures confirm GECAM’s assertion that petroleum is no longer the reliable pillar of growth it once was for the nation.
Shortfalls in agricultural output
The primary sector is also showing signs of distress, with growth tumbling from 3.6% to just 1.7% in a single year. Specifically, industrial and export-oriented agriculture shifted from a robust 8.7% growth in 2024 to a negative 3.2% in 2025, a downturn blamed on unfavorable weather patterns and a general dip in international demand for various crops.
Cotton production serves as a stark example of these difficulties. Yields reached only 286,000 tonnes, falling significantly short of the 400,000-tonne target. Consequently, export volumes for cotton plummeted by 24%, leading to a nearly 30% crash in total export value.
Stagnation in manufacturing and industry
Even sectors showing some resilience are not without flaws. The cocoa season achieved a record-breaking harvest of 309,518 tonnes, yet actual export quantities fell by 9%. The only saving grace was an 18% rise in export value driven by high global prices. Coffee followed a similar pattern: while production rose from 10,562 to 11,637 tonnes, export volumes dipped by 2%, though revenues increased slightly due to market pricing.
Furthermore, Cameroun is becoming increasingly reliant on foreign food sources, evidenced by a 4.5% rise in maize imports. This trend underscores ongoing challenges in achieving national food sovereignty. The industrial sector is also struggling to catalyze economic transformation, with growth hovering between 1.7% and 2%. Manufacturing specifically saw a slowdown from 2.9% to 2.2%. Business leaders point to high energy costs, logistical bottlenecks, limited access to credit, and a general lack of productivity as the primary culprits behind this industrial inertia.