Cameroon

Prices of retail tissue products in Cameroon can vary significantly, depending on the outlet and location. For instance, the price difference for paper towel in local markets and supermarkets can be as much as 22%. Price is a key issue impacting all…

The growth of dietary supplements decelerated due to a shift in consumer behaviour back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns, characterised by reduced emphasis on vitamins and dietary supplements. Additionally, the escalating cost of living is placed…

Cameroon was not as affected by the energy crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine as many other countries. Rising global energy prices gave a boost to government coffers and helped stabilise the economy. However, ongoing civil conflict, as well as…

Carbonates is expected to register moderate growth in volume sales in 2023, partly supported by continuing population growth. In addition, prices have been stable and this has supported volume growth. Non-cola carbonates, and in particular orange…

Hand dishwashing continued to dominate in dishwashing in Cameroon in 2023, with automatic dishwashing remaining conspicuously absent. Handwashing dishes has traditionally been the norm in the country and continues to be the prevailing practice among…

Cameroon was not as affected by the energy crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine as many other countries. Rising global energy prices in 2022 gave a boost to government coffers and helped stabilise the economy. However, ongoing civil conflict, as…

Concentrates, and in particular liquid concentrates, rank among the highest-priced beverages in Cameroon. Moreover, imported variants command an even higher price point compared to local counterparts, averaging nearly 1.5 times more. This elevated…

Spray/aerosol insecticides remained the most popular format in insecticides in Cameroon in 2023, primarily owing to their user-friendly application, and swift and precise pest control which targets a broad spectrum of insects. The convenience of…

Sales in air care in Cameroon in 2023 continued to be driven by the popularity of spray/aerosol air fresheners. These products offer easy accessibility, offer affordable pricing, and a high level of consumer familiarity. The utilisation of…

Poor drinking water is leading to serious digestion problems, with consumers often for instance suffering from diarrhoea, due to the substandard water supply. This is being further exacerbated by climate change, which is leading to increased water…

Consumers are increasingly embracing self-medication, especially for minor illnesses, and this contributed to modest growth in 2023, as well as continuing population growth. Analgesics have achieved a substantial penetration rate in Cameroon,…

Surface care in Cameroon in 2023 was being driven by the popularity of multi-purpose cleaners, which command widespread consumer preference due to their cost-effectiveness, versatility, and abundant availability. The presence of local brands and…

Home care was experiencing a stabilisation effect in Cameroon in 2023, following a substantial escalation in unit prices in 2022, primarily attributed to inflationary pressures and supply chain challenges, notably affecting categories such as bar…

With the fear of the pandemic subsiding and the escalating cost of living seeing consumers prioritising essentials, the demand for vitamins has witnessed a deceleration in growth. While still favoured by higher-income consumers, the majority of…

Volume sales continue to be low for RTD tea, with very low awareness among consumers, as well as limited distribution. In 2023, volume sales are expected to fall, as there is little promotion to increase volume sales, as players concentrate on more…

While prices of soft drinks such as carbonates and bottled water have remained relatively steady, the overall prices of juices have been on an upward trend in the last two years and this has dampened volume growth to an extent. 100% juices are mainly…

Despite a heightened awareness of hygiene in Cameroonian households, compounded by the pandemic, there exists a notable limitation in consumer familiarity with contemporary toilet care cleaning solutions. This is partly attributed to the prevalent…

Demand for wound care is muted, compared with most other consumer health products in 2023. Consumers typically buy these products on a need basis, with only higher-income consumers keeping basic wound care items at home for potential emergencies. As…

Skin diseases across all age groups continues to drive growth for dermatologicals. Skin diseases are common in rural areas due to poor hygiene and in urban areas due to overcrowded neighbourhoods, with many having no access to proper sanitary…

Tobacco in Cameroon stood at a crossroads in 2023, navigating a complex landscape shaped by economic, social, and regulatory factors. At its core lies the persistent challenge of cigarette smuggling, a longstanding issue exacerbated by porous borders…

In 2023, amidst persistent inflationary pressures, consumer preferences in the area of cigarettes underwent a notable transformation in Cameroon. Affordability emerged as a paramount concern, prompting a discernible shift towards economically priced…

Standard towels with wings continue to hold a dominant position in the menstrual care market in Cameroon in 2023, with a strong presence in both modern and traditional retailers. In addition to widespread availability, the category also benefits from…

Polishes remained dominated by shoe polish in Cameroon in 2023, with sales supported by a noted uptick in the importation of shoe polish products in the country. Ultimately, the higher availability of shoe polish resulting from this, is helping to…

Bleach remained a consolidated category in Cameroon in 2023, with La Croix from Colgate-Palmolive Co holding just under half of all share. Indeed, this historical dominance has been steadfast, owing to the brand's well-established presence and the…

Energy drinks is expected to register healthy volume growth in 2023, though from a low base. The demand for energy drinks as a booster to physical and cognitive performance is driving the growth of energy drinks. Energy drinks are particularly…

Bottled water is the most popular soft drink in Cameroon. Unstable supply of clean drinking water ensures continuing demand for bottled water. As such, in 2023, bottled water is expected to register double-digit volume growth, as continuing…

Personal wipes in Cameroon continues to be dominated by baby wipes in 2023 as the shift to disposable baby diapers has spurred demand for baby wipes. The increased presence of several economically priced brands, including Softcare, Familia, Cutties,…

Bar detergents and handwash detergents maintained their popularity in laundry care in Cameroon in 2023, due to the traditional prevalence of such formats in the country. Despite bar detergents being a mature category, the household bar soap format…

Herbal/traditional product registered a marginal fall in current value sales in 2023. While the older generation have always favoured herbal/traditional products, among the younger generation, there exists a level of scepticism regarding their…

Whilst price increases for the main diapers/nappies brands in Cameroon, Softcare, Moby Bébé, Baby Sita and Joylinks, slowed in 2023, ongoing inflation and declining disposable incomes have driven a shift to single nappies, which are available in…

Despite a significant increase in awareness of personal health and hygiene, spurred notably by the pandemic, the tissue and hygiene market in Cameroon in 2023 has not experienced significant volume growth. In the retail tissue market, a recent report…

Paediatric consumer health registered moderate current value growth in 2023, partly supported by continuing population growth. Essential consumer health products such as cough, cold and allergy remedies, as well as analgesics, were the most popular…

Ice cream is one of the most popular snack foods in Cameroon, not only because of its indulgence appeal but also due to the hot climate. However, informal sales of cheaper unpackaged varieties by roadside vendors still account for a large share of…

RTDs remains a consolidated category in Cameroon, with few new developments. Société Anonyme des Brasseries du Cameroun (SABC) leads RTDs with its Booster brand holding just over half of all brand shares, with the other most notable brand being…

Tea is expected to register both healthy current value and volume growth, partly supported by a continuing growing population. Black tea maintains its dominant position in Cameroon in terms of volume sales and remains the most affordable type of tea…

The condensed milk category in Cameroon has been significantly impacted by inflation, experiencing the highest price increase in the country’s dairy industry. After a modest rise following the pandemic, prices peaked in 2022. However, the first…

The Cameroonian market for baby food has not escaped the detrimental effects of inflation. The surge in fuel prices, along with substantial increases in the cost of milk and wheat, has been instrumental in driving up the prices of baby food. Both…

Growth in retail volume sales of sugar confectionery in Cameroon in 2023 looks set to be relatively modest, and only marginally above that recorded in 2022. This is mainly because high inflation fuelled by the global recovery from the pandemic and…

The latter part of the review period saw a number of chewing gum manufacturers in Cameroon move to address longstanding consumer complaints about quality standards by reformulating established brands and launching new varieties with softer textures…

In the first quarter of 2023, Cameroon’s National Cocoa and Coffee Board revised the maximum price of cacao beans upwards twice, bringing it to XAF1,290 per kg. These changes were attributed to a spike in demand caused by the entry of two new…

As seen with the trend for champagne in clubs, we are also seeing a significant increase in sales of premium and prestige premium spirits through clubs and lounges in Cameroon. Brands such as Johnnie Walker Black Label (Diageo Plc), Jack Daniel’s…

In 2023, cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco in Cameroon recorded steady growth in volume terms. Despite the ban imposed by the Ministry of Trade in 2022, pipe tobacco continued to enjoy demand in 2023, primarily fuelled by its association with…

Values sales continued to be low for weight management and wellbeing, but there was healthy growth. Obesity is a growing issue in Cameroon and this supported value and volume growth. Also, culturally, curvier women were traditionally perceived as…

Value sales for breakfast cereal continue to be relatively low in Cameroon, and in 2023, with consumers prioritising essentials, as purchasing power continues to decline, breakfast cereal is expected to register a significant fall in volume sales.…

Chocolate spreads remains by far the largest product area among sweet spreads, with Tartina by Chococam being the best seller. It also offers Choconut. Affordable pricing, an extensive distribution network and a long-standing presence has built up…

Conflict and corruption blight Cameroon’s political landscape and have kept economic freedom depressed. Nevertheless, the economy exhibits strength in the face of global challenges, but inflation remains elevated and reliance on hydrocarbons is…

Savoury snacks has remained the smallest of the main snacks categories in Cameroon in retail volume sales terms in 2023. This is mainly explained by the traditional preference for sweeter and more indulgence-oriented snacks among local consumers. For…

There is expected to be steep volume decline in coffee sales in 2023, and more specifically instant coffee, which accounts for most volume sales. With consumers being highly price sensitive in 2023, many consumers buy 20g sachets, which mean a…

While baked goods is largely dependent on imported wheat, efforts are being made to provide local alternatives in order to stabilise prices and protect Cameroon from global uncertainties. As such local ingredients such as cassava, plantains, yams,…

Beer and lager are popular alcoholic beverages in Cameroon. Since the early 2000s, the prices of beer in the country have been on a steady increase, yet the consumption rate has never taken a notable downturn. If anything, it is the production…