Due to the increase in imports and the decline in exports, the trade deficit jumped by 23% reaching 2 145 billion FCFA between 2024 and 2025.
The National Institute of Statistics (INS) has published the foreign trade report for the year 2025. According to the document, Cameroon’s trade balance deficit stands at 2145,2 billion FCFA, a worsening of 22,8% compared to 2024, when the trade balance deficit was 1 747,3 billion FCFA. In one year, the data shows a difference of 398,0 billion FCFA.
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According to the INS, this deterioration in the trade balance results from the 168,1 billion FCFA decrease in export revenues, or 5,2% combined with the 4,6% increase in import expenditures, or 229,8 billion FCFA. Import expenditures increased by 4,6% year-on-year to reach 5 229,2 billion FCFA. They consist of mineral products accounting for 19,1% of total import expenditures, of which 15,1% consists of fuels and lubricants and 1,9% of clinkers. Imports of mineral products were nevertheless down by 15,1% compared to 2024.
Export revenues, for their part, fell by 5,2% in 2025 and amounted to 3084,2 billion FCFA, whereas in 2024, they were up by 8,8%. The decline in export revenues from crude petroleum oils, at 29,6%, and liquefied natural gas, at 8,1%, are at the root of this regression. Nevertheless, the INS indicates that the decline in export revenues was cushioned by the 18,7% increase in export revenues from raw cocoa beans.
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It should thus be noted that the trade balance deficit excluding crude oil is more pronounced and amounts to 2 850,9 billion FCFA, representing a relative worsening of 3,7% and 100,9 billion FCFA in absolute value compared to the year 2024. Excluding crude oil and natural gas, this deficit worsens further and reaches 3 157,6 billion FCFA, an increase of 86,2 billion FCFA, or 2,8% compared to the year 2024.
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