Their increase is explained by the import prices of fuels and lubricants. However, while spending is soaring, imports of certain mineral products, mechanical appliances, and plant products are declining.
According to the 2025 foreign trade note from the National Institute of Statistics (INS), export spending is up 4,6% year-on-year to reach 5 229,2 billion FCFA. They consist mostly of mineral products, which account for 19,1% of total import spending, including 15,1% for fuels and lubricants and 1,9% for clinkers. Although import spending is up, imports of mineral products are down 15,1% compared to 2024.
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The same downward trend characterizes imports of machinery, mechanical and electrical appliances. In 2025, they represent 14,5% of total import spending and amount to 757,4 billion FCFA, a reduction of 3,7% compared to 2024.
In the same vein, imports of plant products are declining thanks to a 14,1% decrease in cereal imports. These products represent 10,4% of all imports for the year. The bill for plant products fell by 12,5% compared to 2024 and is valued at 546 billion FCFA.
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In 2025, Cameroon imported cereals worth 466,9 billion FCFA, a decrease of 14,1% year-on-year and representing 8,9% of total import spending. The decrease in imports here concerns rice, the bill for which amounts to 268,7 billion FCFA, or 5,1% of import spending, a decrease of 15,6% compared to 2024. Wheat and meslin represent 3,6% of imports in 2025 for a value of 187,8 billion FCFA, a decline of 12,3% compared to 2024. As for corn, its weight in total import spending is 0,2% and its bill amounts to 10,3 billion FCFA.
In the import register for 2025, imports of chemical industry products increased by 5,0%. Products in this category represent 10,5% of total import spending. These products consist of 3,4% pharmaceutical products, 2,2% miscellaneous chemical products, and 1,7% insecticides and fungicides. Imports of these products amount to 548 billion FCFA in 2025, an increase of 5,0% compared to 2024.
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