Trade: Frozen Fish Imports Plummet 59% at Port of Douala

The sharp 59.1% drop is part of a broader trend of declining food imports, also affecting rice shipments, which decreased by 59.4%, sugar by 35.1%, and other food products by 55.1%. The only increase was in the arrival of industrial raw materials such as clinker, gypsum, alumina, and fertilizers, which boosted the port's overall activity by 5.4%.

The decline in imports at Douala can be attributed to a strategic shift in logistics. Congelcam, the national leader in the sector, has redirected around 80% of its shipments to the Kribi facilities following a dispute in 2023 over the destruction of 432 containers of damaged goods, valued at 13 billion FCFA. The transfer of the major operator has boosted activity at Kribi's container terminal, with volumes increasing by 82% in 2025. The geographical shift is weakening the supply chain for the Douala market, while maritime transport costs are likely to rise due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The instability of logistics links is exacerbating tensions in the national supply of animal proteins. The National Institute of Statistics estimates that external purchases of frozen fish exceeded 230 billion FCFA in 2025, while domestic demand exceeds 500,000 tons per year, compared to a limited local production of 200,000 tons. The government is seeking to bridge the 300,000-ton gap by accelerating investments in aquaculture and continental fishing, as outlined in the National Development Strategy 2020-2030.

The continued dependence on external supplies is weighing heavily on the country's trade balance and foreign exchange reserves. Rapid modernization of aquaculture infrastructure and equipment for local cooperatives represent the only sustainable alternatives for reducing the food vulnerability of urban populations. Without a rapid increase in national catches, the reorganization of maritime routes will continue to impact the cost of the average household basket in major cities.

BCN