Cameroon’s textile and apparel industry posted CFA59.4 billion in exports in 2024, the highest level since 2019, even as the sector continues to struggle in the domestic market. The figure, released by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), represents an increase from CFA57.1 billion in 2023 and extends a six-year streak of exports exceeding CFA50 billion annually.
Export Success Amid Domestic Challenges
While exports remain resilient, Cameroon’s local textile market tells a very different story. The Industrial Cotton Company of Cameroon (Cicam), once the dominant force in the domestic industry, now holds only 5% of market share, a dramatic fall from its near-monopoly before 2000.
Industry observers point to the rise of cheap Chinese textiles, which now command around 80% of the market, alongside the surge of secondhand imports from West Africa and beyond, as the main drivers of Cicam’s decline.
Secondhand Imports on the Rise
In 2023, Cameroon imported 61,221 tons of secondhand clothing worth CFA30.2 billion, accounting for 35% of all such imports into the six-member CEMAC bloc. The widespread availability and affordability of used garments have further weakened local producers’ competitiveness.
Government Strategy for Revival
Despite these challenges, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to reviving the sector under its National Development Strategy 2020–2030 (SND30). The plan includes boosting national cotton production to 600,000 tons annually by 2030, with a target to process 50% of this output locally.
Officials hope the strategy will help reduce dependence on imports, foster value addition in the domestic market, and reposition Cameroon as a stronger player in regional textile value chains.
At a Crossroads
Cameroon’s textile industry thus finds itself at a crossroads: achieving export resilience while struggling to defend its home market. The sector’s future will hinge on the success of government reforms, the ability of domestic players to modernize, and the country’s capacity to curb its heavy reliance on secondhand clothing and low-cost imports.
