Cameroon: Container Market 2024

Container Market Size in Cameroon

In 2022, the Cameroonian container market decreased by -17.6% to $X for the first time since 2017, thus ending a four-year rising trend. Overall, consumption, however, posted a perceptible expansion. As a result, consumption reached the peak level of $X, and then declined significantly in the following year.

Container Exports

Exports from Cameroon

In 2022, shipments abroad of tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar containers decreased by -5.7% to X units for the first time since 2019, thus ending a two-year rising trend. Overall, exports saw a abrupt decline. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 with an increase of 174%. The exports peaked at X units in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, container exports declined slightly to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, exports recorded a deep slump. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 with an increase of 140%. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

Belgium (X units) was the main destination for container exports from Cameroon, with a 75% share of total exports. Moreover, container exports to Belgium exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, South Korea (X units), tenfold. Switzerland (X units) ranked third in terms of total exports with a 3.5% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume to Belgium stood at -9.4%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: South Korea (-6.7% per year) and Switzerland (+85.5% per year).

In value terms, Belgium ($X) remains the key foreign market for tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar containers exports from Cameroon, comprising 61% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Germany ($X), with a 15% share of total exports. It was followed by Switzerland, with a 5.4% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value to Belgium stood at -6.0%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Germany (+2.3% per year) and Switzerland (+51.0% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the average container export price amounted to $X per unit, with an increase of 2.3% against the previous year. Overall, the export price, however, showed a noticeable slump. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when the average export price increased by 35%. Over the period under review, the average export prices attained the peak figure at $X per unit in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, the export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Germany ($X per unit), while the average price for exports to South Korea ($X per unit) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Germany (+38.5%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced mixed trend patterns.

Container Imports

Imports into Cameroon

In 2022, after four years of growth, there was significant decline in purchases abroad of tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar containers, when their volume decreased by -14.3% to X units. Over the period under review, imports, however, recorded a strong expansion. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 when imports increased by 60% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports attained the maximum at X units in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2022, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, container imports reduced markedly to $X in 2022. Overall, imports, however, recorded a tangible increase. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 with an increase of 60%. As a result, imports attained the peak of $X, and then contracted remarkably in the following year.

Imports by Country

In 2022, India (X units) constituted the largest supplier of container to Cameroon, with a 29% share of total imports. Moreover, container imports from India exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Italy (X units), threefold. South Africa (X units) ranked third in terms of total imports with a 6.8% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume from India amounted to +118.9%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Italy (-4.1% per year) and South Africa (-2.7% per year).

In value terms, India ($X) constituted the largest supplier of tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar containers to Cameroon, comprising 29% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Italy ($X), with a 10% share of total imports. It was followed by China, with a 7.7% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value from India stood at +121.8%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Italy (-8.5% per year) and China (+9.4% per year).

Import Prices by Country

The average container import price stood at $X per unit in 2022, with a decrease of -5.1% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price saw a perceptible shrinkage. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when the average import price increased by 35% against the previous year. The import price peaked at $X per unit in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was China ($X per unit), while the price for the United Arab Emirates ($X per unit) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by China (+18.5%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform