On June 23, 2026, the Chairman of Cameroon’s Business Group (GECAM) delivered a stark assessment of the country’s economic trajectory.

According to the GECAM leader, Cameroon’s economic growth plummeted to 3.1% in 2025, down from 3.5% in 2024—a pace he described as insufficient to meet the 2035 emergence target. For context, sub-Saharan Africa is projected to grow by 4.5% on average, while WAEMU economies could reach 6.4%, compared to just 2.6% for CEMAC, where Cameroon remains the largest economy.

286,000 metric tons

The oil sector collapse further compounds the challenges. Hydrocarbon output contracted by 6.9% in 2025, following an already steep decline of 9.7% in 2024, underscoring the sector’s waning role as an economic growth driver.

Other industries present no brighter outlook. Primary sector growth dropped from 3.6% to 1.7% year-on-year. Industrial agriculture and export-oriented farming plunged from +8.7% in 2024 to -3.2% in 2025, attributed to climate challenges and declining export volumes across multiple sectors.

Cotton production exemplifies these struggles. Output reached only 286,000 metric tons, falling far short of the 400,000-ton target. Export volumes declined by 24%, with export earnings collapsing by nearly 30%.

1.7% to 2%

“Even traditionally strong sectors reveal vulnerabilities. The cocoa harvest hit a record 309,518 metric tons, yet export volumes fell by 9%, despite an 18% surge in export earnings driven by global price surges. Coffee follows a similar pattern: production rose from 10,562 to 11,637 metric tons, while export volumes declined by 2%, though earnings increased by 3.9%,” the business leader explained.

Meanwhile, Cameroon’s food import dependency continues to rise. Maize imports climbed by 4.5%, highlighting persistent struggles in achieving national food security. The industrial sector, expected to drive economic transformation, grew just 1.7% to 2%, while manufacturing slowed from 2.9% to 2.2%. Industry leaders cite exorbitant energy costs, logistical bottlenecks, financing constraints, and declining productivity as key obstacles.