Cameroon: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 1 company, organisation, vessel or aircraft linked to Cameroon.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Cameroon in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Cameroon may still be on a list.

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On the sanctions lists

1 entries on the official lists name Cameroon — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
UK Sanctions List (FCDO)	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Cameroon recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Cameroon: logistics and trade

Central African sea and transit hub (Chad, Central African Republic)

Cameroon (ISO-Code: CM) is located in Central Africa and borders Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo, with a coastline along the Gulf of Guinea. Politically, the country is a presidential republic with centralized institutions and stable administration. The climate varies from equatorial in the south through tropical in the center to semi-arid in the north, with distinct rainy and dry seasons. Economically, Cameroon is diversified, with focuses on agriculture, oil and gas production, mining, industry, and services. Foreign trade is significant, with exports mainly consisting of crude oil, timber, cocoa, coffee, and cotton, while the country is dependent on imports for machinery, energy, and consumer goods. Strategically important ports like Douala, as well as an extensive road and railway network, secure the transit and logistics function for regional and international supply chains. The national currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF), which enables stable economic transactions within the CEMAC region. Cameroon benefits from its geographical location as a link between West and Central Africa. Infrastructure, natural resources, and economic diversification enhance the logistical and economic significance of the country.

Capital: Yaoundé
Population: 29,123,744
Area: 475,442 km²
Currency: CFA Franc (BEAC) (XAF)
Continent: Africa
Region: Central Africa / CEMAC
Economic area: CEMAC (customs union), ECCAS, AfCFTA, EU-/UK-EPA
Religions: Christianity, Islam
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Road · Rail · Air · Inland waterway

Current situation: Deep-sea port Kribi is growing strongly (around 555'000 TEU in 2025); Douala remains the main transshipment hub with about 76 percent. EU/UK EPA tariff reduction in phase 10 since August 2025 (60 percent reduction). As of 2026-06-24.
Seasonal conditions: Pronounced rainy season (in the south roughly March to November) with road damage and delays in the hinterland; dry Harmattan in the north. Gulf of Guinea navigable all year round.

Main seaports

Douala
Douala (CM DLA): Cameroon's main port, about 380,000 TEU in 2024, transit for Chad and CAR, quay 17 extension due 2027, Kribi as deep-water alternative.
Kribi Deep Sea Port
Kribi Deepwater Port, Cameroon: Gulf of Guinea container gateway with over 1 million TEU/year capacity since May 2025, operated by KCT (Bolloré/CMA CGM/CHEC).
Ebome Marine Terminal
Ebome Marine Terminal (CM EBT): Perenco's offshore crude-oil export buoy off Cameroon. No container or general cargo; use Kribi or Douala instead.
Kole Oil Terminal
Kole Oil Terminal (CM KOL): offshore crude-oil export point off Cameroon with the FSO Massango and an SBM buoy. Not a container port – use Douala or Kribi.
Kome Kribi 1 Marine Terminal
Kome Kribi 1 (CM KBI) is Cameroon's offshore crude-export terminal for Chad's Doba Blend. Tanker liftings only — use Kribi or Douala for container cargo.
Limboh Terminal
Limboh Terminal (CM LIT): SONARA crude and products terminal at Cape Limboh, Cameroon. Tankers only; for containers use Douala or the deep-water port of Kribi.

Main cargo airports

Douala International AirportDLA
Douala (DLA/FKKD): Cameroon's main air cargo gateway, about 15,000 t in 2024, next to the seaport. XAF 95bn modernisation under way since June 2026.
Yaoundé Nsimalen International AirportNSI
Yaoundé Nsimalen (NSI): Cameroon's second airport and capital gateway, 50,000 t freight design, 747 docks, cold storage. Main cargo via Douala.
Garoua International AirportGOU
Garoua International (GOU/FKKR), northern Cameroon: 3,400 m runway, Camair-Co domestic flights, minimal cargo. Freight via Douala (DLA) and rail to Ngaoundéré.

Road corridors

Douala - Yaoundé - Ngaoundéré
Douala - N'Djamena (Chad corridor)
Douala - Bangui (Central African Republic corridor)

Rail corridors

Camrail: Douala - Yaoundé - Ngaoundéré

Inland ports

Garoua - river port on the Bénoué (seasonal)

Main trade lanes

Cameroon - China
Cameroon - EU (Netherlands/Spain/Italy/France)
Cameroon - India

Customs and import

Customs authority Direction Générale des Douanes (DGD), Ministry of FinanceOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: CAMCIS of the DGD (since 2020, replacing SYDONIA++), processed via the GUCE Single Window. Mandatory: BESC/ECTN at the CNSC, SGS pre-shipment inspection with AVI, ANOR conformity certificate for many goods.
Export customs system: Electronic export declaration via CAMCIS of the DGD through the GUCE Single Window; a BESC/ECTN is required for sea freight.
Import VAT: Standard rate 19,25 percent (17,5 percent plus 10 percent municipal surcharge CAC) on the CIF value plus customs duty. In addition, an acompte (income tax advance payment) and various fees apply.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: EUR.1 or origin declaration for the EU and UK EPA; in regional trade, CEMAC and AfCFTA origin proofs. CEMAC forms a customs union with a common external tariff (TEC).
Restricted and prohibited goods: Prohibited: counterfeits, drugs, toxic waste, vehicles older than 15 years. Requires authorization: weapons, medicines, alcohol, tobacco, chemicals. Second-hand clothing and certain second-hand electronics restricted.

Typical import documents

BESC/ECTN (CNSC)
SGS AVI
Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading / air waybill
Insurance certificate
ANOR conformity certificate

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading
Certificate of origin
EUR.1 (EU/UK EPA)
Phytosanitary certificate

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: High
Customs delays: High
Port congestion: Medium to high
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Medium to high
E-commerce relevance: Medium

Trade

Top import partners

China France Nigeria Belgium United States

Top export partners

China Netherlands India Spain Italy

Top import goods

Machinery
Vehicles
Petroleum products
Food
Chemicals

Top export goods

Crude oil
Wood
Cocoa
Cotton
Aluminium

Typical cargo

Crude oil
Wood
Cocoa
Coffee
Cotton
Aluminium
Machinery
Vehicles

Logistics questions

What is the import VAT in Cameroon?

The standard VAT rate (TVA) is 19,25 percent: 17,5 percent basic rate plus 10 percent municipal surcharge (CAC). It is levied on the CIF value plus customs duty. In addition, there are an acompte (income tax advance payment) and fees such as the customs IT fee and the FEICOM levy.

Which customs system does Cameroon use?

The Direction Générale des Douanes processes imports and exports electronically via CAMCIS, which replaced the former SYDONIA++ in 2020. All transactions run through the Single Window for foreign trade (GUCE), which bundles CAMCIS, payments and authorizations.

What are the customs tariff rates in Cameroon?

As a CEMAC member, Cameroon applies the Common External Tariff (TEC) with four tiers: 5 percent for basic goods, 10 percent for raw materials and industrial machinery, 20 percent for semi-finished products and 30 percent for consumer goods. Duty is calculated on the CIF value.

Which documents are required for an import?

Required are, among others, an electronic BESC/ECTN freight declaration at the National Shippers' Council (CNSC), an Attestation de Vérification (AVI) from SGS, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, and an insurance certificate. For many goods, an ANOR conformity certificate is required.

Which ports and airports are important for freight handling?

The main port is Douala with about 76 percent of throughput; the deep-sea port of Kribi is growing strongly and reached around 555'000 TEU in 2025. For air cargo, Douala (DLA), Yaoundé-Nsimalen (NSI) and Garoua (GOU) serve. Douala is also a transit gateway for Chad and the Central African Republic.

Which trade agreements apply to Cameroon?

Cameroon belongs to the CEMAC customs union as well as ECCAS and the African free trade area AfCFTA. With the EU and the United Kingdom there is an interim EPA: tariff reduction proceeds in stages and reached phase 10 in August 2025 with a 60 percent reduction, with full exemption by 2030. Preference with EUR.1.

Which goods are prohibited or restricted?

Prohibited items include counterfeits, drugs, toxic waste and vehicles older than 15 years. Weapons, medicines, alcohol, tobacco and chemicals require a permit. Second-hand clothing and certain second-hand electronics are subject to restrictions to protect local industry and the environment.

What risks exist in the Cameroonian supply chain?

Increased security risks exist in the English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest, as well as in the far north (Boko Haram). There is a risk of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. In addition, there are corruption, customs delays and, during the rainy season, impaired roads in the hinterland.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗