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Cameroon exported 127,506 tons of cotton fiber in 2023, generating a total revenue of CFA147.9 billion, according to the country’s National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Both the revenues and the volume exported decreased. INS said the volume fell by 21,826 tons (14.7%) compared to 2022 and the revenues by CFA7.4 billion (4.8% drop). Despite this trend, raw cotton remains one of Cameroon’s top five export products, accounting for 4.9% of the market share. However, it lags significantly behind hydrocarbons like crude oil (37.7%) and liquefied natural gas (14.1%), as well as cocoa beans (12%) and sawn wood (6.7%).
According to sources at the Cotton Development Company (Sodecoton), most of the country’s cotton is exported to Asia. China has been the main destination for Cameroonian cotton for many years, receiving about 38% of exports on average. Other significant destinations include Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
To boost its cotton exports, Sodecoton aims to increase annual production to an average of 400,000 tons by 2025, up from 329,021 tons during the 2021-2022 season. The company has been expanding its facilities to meet this goal. In March 2021, construction began on its 10th ginning plant in Gouna, near Garoua in the North region. An 11th plant is also planned for Godola, near Maroua in the Far North region.