Cameroon has become Gabon’s leading African supplier in 2025, overtaking other regional partners as Gabon’s import structure gradually shifts toward sub-regional trade, official data showed.
According to figures released by Gabon’s Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes (DGDI), Cameroon ranked as Gabon’s top African source of imports in the second quarter of 2025, ahead of Togo, reflecting a steady reorientation of supply chains within Central Africa.
The performance places Cameroon fifth among Gabon’s overall top 10 suppliers, behind Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and China. It now ranks ahead of several long-standing trade partners, including France, the United States and India, underlining a rise in intra-African trade, particularly within the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).
Trade officials say Cameroon’s advance reflects its position as the largest economy in the CEMAC bloc, as well as advantages linked to geographical proximity, lower logistics costs and a more diversified export base.
“The structure of Gabon’s imports is gradually evolving in favour of regional suppliers capable of responding quickly to domestic demand,” a trade official said, adding that Cameroon’s growing footprint illustrates the bloc’s untapped commercial potential.
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While Cameroon consolidated its position, Togo slipped to 10th place among Gabon’s suppliers despite a sharp rise in its exports to the country. Analysts say this suggests that competitiveness and supply reliability, rather than growth alone, are shaping new trade hierarchies.
Overall imports edge higher
Gabon’s total imports rose by 1% in the second quarter of 2025 compared with the previous three months, according to the Directorate General of Economy and Fiscal Policy. The modest increase was driven by a rebound in orders from several key suppliers.
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Imports surged most sharply from Togo, up 85.7%, followed by Cambodia with a 61.3% rise, Cameroon with a 39.6% increase, France at 11.3% and the United Arab Emirates at 11.2%.
The bulk of imported goods consisted of food products excluding beverages, intermediate goods for the construction sector, non-food consumer items and vehicles. Officials say this mix reflects both a recovery in household consumption and the continuation of infrastructure projects across the country.
Despite the stronger showing of African and Asian partners, Europe remains Gabon’s dominant source of imports. By the end of June 2025, European suppliers accounted for 40.1% of total imports, led primarily by France and Belgium.
This underscores Gabon’s continued dependence on European markets, even as diversification efforts gather pace.
Push for regional integration
Economists see Cameroon’s rise as a key supplier as a positive signal for regional economic integration, at a time when African governments are seeking to strengthen intra-continental trade under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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In the medium term, deeper trade ties within CEMAC could help reduce transport costs, improve supply-chain resilience and limit exposure to external shocks, analysts say.
“Regional trade remains relatively underdeveloped, but current trends suggest a slow rebalancing in favour of neighbouring economies,” an economist in Libreville said.
As Gabon looks to diversify its economy beyond oil and manage external vulnerabilities, the growing role of regional partners such as Cameroon is expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping its trade strategy.
