(Ecofin Agency) - Cameroon has officially launched its first chemical fertilizer production plant, marking a key step in cutting back on costly imports and supporting local agriculture. On May 7, Gabriel Mbaïrobé, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, inaugurated the facility in Bonaberi, Douala.

The factory was built by Hydrochem Cameroun, a subsidiary of the Noutchogouin Jean Samuel Group (NJS). It has an annual production capacity of 120,000 tons, expandable to 150,000 tons. The cost of the project has not been disclosed.

According to Jean Marie Manga, Deputy Director of Hydrochem Cameroun, the plant imports raw materials in bulk and formulates fertilizer blends locally, based on the specific needs of its clients. Minister Mbaïrobé welcomed the initiative, stating that it fits Cameroon’s new farming policy, which encourages a focus on soil health first, using fertilizers to correct deficiencies with targeted nutrients.

The minister added that this new facility should allow Cameroon to cut its annual fertilizer imports in half, currently estimated at 300,000 tons. Data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS) shows that between 2021 and 2023, the country spent CFA173.9 billion on fertilizer imports. In 2023 alone, Cameroon imported 228,326 tons, a 76.2% increase from the previous year, with a total cost of CFA70.9 billion.

The spike in volume and prices has worsened Cameroon’s trade deficit, which exceeded CFA2,000 billion for the first time in 2023. According to INS, the inflation in fertilizer imports was partly caused by the Russia–Ukraine conflict—Russia being a major supplier to Cameroon—as well as the lack of domestic production.

To address this challenge, the government announced in 2023 the construction of three fertilizer plants, following the failure of a stalled project led by German firm Ferrostaal, which had been pending for more than 12 years. The Hydrochem facility is the first of the three to become operational.

This launch also deepens the presence of the NJS Group in Cameroon’s agricultural input market. In December 2023, the group acquired the local operations of Norwegian fertilizer giant Yara, expanding its footprint in the sector.