Cameroon imported 278,408 tons of wheat in the second quarter of 2025 at a cost exceeding CFA45 billion (~$81.5 million), according to data from the National Shippers’ Council of Cameroon. This represents an increase from 270,645 tons valued at CFA41.5 billion (~$75.3 million) during the same period in 2024, translating into a 2.9 % rise in volume and an 8.4 % increase in value.
The sharper rise in import costs compared with volumes reflects higher international prices and logistics expenses, adding pressure to Cameroon’s food import bill.
The data confirm wheat’s central role in Cameroon’s food import structure and its contribution to the country’s trade deficit. Wheat is a key input for bread, pasta and other staple foods, as well as for the domestic milling industry, making it difficult to substitute in the short term.
Although official figures do not provide a detailed breakdown by country of origin, sector data indicate that Poland remained one of Cameroon’s main wheat suppliers during the period. Imports from Poland were valued at CFA18.2 billion (~$33.0 million) in the second quarter of 2025, down from CFA20 billion (~$36.2 million) a year earlier. The decline suggests a modest adjustment in sourcing rather than a structural shift away from European suppliers, with Cameroon continuing to rely heavily on external markets for wheat.
Within Cameroon’s overall import structure, wheat accounted for about 4 % of total import value in the second quarter of 2025. This placed it alongside other strategic food imports such as frozen fish, which represented 7 %, and rice, also at around 4 %.
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The composition highlights the country’s sustained dependence on imported cereals and protein sources to meet domestic demand.
The continued rise in wheat imports has revived debate around food security and agricultural policy in Cameroon. Analysts and policymakers have increasingly questioned the country’s limited domestic cereal production capacity and the vulnerability created by exposure to global price swings.
With population growth and urban consumption continuing to rise, authorities face mounting pressure to balance short‑term import needs with longer‑term strategies aimed at boosting local grain production and reducing reliance on external suppliers.
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