Grains Market Analysis
The Grains Market In Cameroon Market size is estimated at USD 4.70 million in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 5.94 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.80% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
- The market primarily addresses domestic demands. The grains market encompasses cereal crops, pulses, and oilseeds. Cameroon relies on imports to meet its cereal needs, indicating a lack of self-sufficiency. Wheat consumption in Cameroon remains robust. Yet, domestic production falls short of meeting this demand, positioning Cameroon as one of the world's leading wheat importers. Data from ITC Trademap reveals that in 2023 Cameroon imported 866,000.15 metric tons of wheat and meslin, up from 859,392.62 metric tons in 2022.
- According to the Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical (FAOSTAT) database, maize, the most widely cultivated cereal crop, was harvested over approximately 1,200,000 hectares in 2023, a significant increase from 163,612 hectares in 2019. In addition to maize, the country's other major crops include beans, cowpeas, groundnuts, and sesame, in that order.
- In a bid to bolster self-sufficiency, the President of Cameroon ramped up funding for domestic wheat production. This move came in the wake of 2022 protests ignited by a wheat shortage, a situation exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Prior to Russia's Black Sea blockade, Ukraine accounted for 60% of Cameroon's wheat imports. The fallout from this disruption saw bread prices in Cameroon skyrocket by nearly 50%. Given Cameroon's strong potential for grain consumption and the government's commitment to self-sufficiency in grain production, the country's grain market is poised for growth in the coming years.
Grains Market Trends
Increasing Demand for Animal Feed
- The expanding animal population in Cameroon continues to generate substantial demand for animal feed products. Private enterprises and the Cameroonian government have established feed production development as a strategic priority to strengthen the nation's economic foundation. In a significant development, the government implemented a comprehensive strategic plan in June 2024 to enhance national milk production by 2035. This ambitious initiative, valued at CFA305.7 billion, encompasses specific targets to increase milk production from current levels of less than 200,000 tons to exceed 1.1 million tons by 2035, while simultaneously advancing livestock infrastructure development and expanding animal feed production capabilities.
- Maize maintains its position as the fundamental component of animal feed production in Cameroon. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) designates maize as the "king of feed ingredients," attributing this status to its superior energy content and exceptional digestibility characteristics. In traditional feed formulations, maize and protein concentrates comprise more than 70% of farm-made dietary compositions. To address the intensifying demand from the animal feed industry, agricultural producers are implementing advanced high-yielding varieties and hybrid seed technologies. FAO statistical data demonstrates that maize production in Cameroon exhibited positive growth, increasing from 2.1 million metric tons in 2021 to 2.2 million metric tons in 2022. The grains market trajectory indicates continued expansion, driven by the sustained increase in animal feed requirements.
Higher Wheat Consumption
- Wheat maintains its position as the predominant grain in Cameroon's consumption patterns. Although domestic wheat production demonstrates an upward trajectory, the substantial increase in consumption significantly surpasses local production capabilities, necessitating a continuous rise in imports. The country heavily relies on Ukrainian wheat imports, which constitute 60% of total wheat procurement. Russia and Ukraine serve as the principal wheat exporters to Cameroon. International Trade Centre (ITC) Trademap statistics indicate that Cameroon's wheat and meslin imports experienced an increase from 811,743 metric tons in 2021 to 859,393 metric tons in 2022. Following widespread protests in 2022 triggered by acute wheat shortages, exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the President of Cameroon implemented strategic measures by substantially increasing financial allocation for domestic wheat production to enhance national self-sufficiency.
- The country is implementing a comprehensive strategy to introduce multiple wheat varieties to strengthen domestic production capabilities. Extensive research initiatives have identified IRAD I, IRAD II, and Alexander Wonder as the most viable wheat varieties for commercial cultivation. Additionally, varieties 11SATYND and 29SAWYT have demonstrated promising characteristics and are currently undergoing rigorous evaluation protocols. IRAD I has emerged as the preferred choice for industrial applications due to its superior gluten content specifications. The Santa variety's pronounced tiller development indicates exceptional soil fertility conditions in the region, establishing optimal environmental parameters for wheat cultivation. The systematic evaluation of diverse wheat varieties, combined with favorable agricultural conditions, positions the market for sustained growth in the forthcoming period.
Grains Market News
- March 2024: The Cereal Office, a government-established grain purchasing center, aimed to stockpile grains sourced directly from production basins. The Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee of Experts (COTIE) approved the Cereal Office's plan to bolster its stocks by an additional 10,000 tons. This endorsement allows the public company, tasked with addressing famine in Cameroon's northern trio of regions, to access the necessary public funds for these acquisitions.
- September 2022: The Ministery of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Cameroon, Dr. Athman Mravili, jointly signed a support project for implementing the Hand in Hand Initiative in Cameroon. With this initiative, the organization will help the country establish multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral partnerships to ensure the country's strong commitment to donors.
- May 2022: The World Bank funded an emergency project to combat the food crisis in Cameroon and strengthen the food crisis. This project started in 2022 and will proceed till 2025. This project is inclusive of 5 sectors, of which agriculture is one of them.