The Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, sent a letter to his counterpart in Agriculture, Gabriel Mbairobe, on May 8, 2026, requesting the suspension of corn imports into Cameroon. This request follows repeated complaints from local producers regarding the difficulties they face in selling their harvests.
"Following the interministerial meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on May 7, 2026, where the issue of massive corn imports contrasting with the poor sales of local production was raised, I suggest that you instruct the suspension, until further notice, of the issuance of import permits for this product," wrote Minister Mbarga Atangana. He also proposes suspending ongoing imports, an essential safeguard measure according to him.
In clear terms, the Minister of Trade wants the Ministry of Agriculture to stop issuing new import authorizations and temporarily suspend the effects of existing ones. The main objective is to prioritize the sale of local corn production, which faces increased competition from imports.
Despite government efforts to support local production, including the commissioning in 2021 of a corn processing plant by the Castel group, corn imports have increased sharply since 2023. In 2023, imports jumped by 229% to reach 39,991 tonnes, representing an expenditure of 7.8 billion FCFA. This trend intensified in 2024 with 81,233 tonnes imported, amounting to over 11 billion FCFA, before a slight decline in 2025 to 72,586 tonnes (10.2 billion FCFA).
Cameroonian manufacturers often prefer imported corn because of its more competitive price. In May 2026, the cost of a tonne of imported corn ranged between 131,000 and 155,000 FCFA, while local corn varied from 140,000 to 255,000 FCFA, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture. This price difference is partly due to low yields in Cameroon, linked to limited access to quality seeds. With an average yield of 1.8 tonnes per hectare in 2023, Cameroon is far from the international standard of 5.9 tonnes, and even behind South Africa (6.4 tonnes). Hybrid corn varieties could offer yields of 6 to 9 tonnes per hectare, compared to 1.8 tonnes for so-called composite varieties.
The low yields contribute to a high production cost, estimated at around 428,000 FCFA per hectare in Cameroon. This cost is considered high compared to Europe and America, where producers often receive subsidies.
In April 2026, the State transferred 6 billion FCFA to the Cameroonian Bank for Small and Medium Enterprises (BC-PME) to support strategic agricultural sectors, including corn. Despite these initiatives, local producers are struggling to compete with imports, hence the request for a temporary suspension of imports.
Cameroon aims to reduce its cereal imports by 35% by 2028.
