• Cameroon invests CFA17 billion in palm oil production projects
• New plants, upgrades to boost output, farmer incomes, jobs
• Government-backed plan targets import cuts, higher yields, lower deficit

Cameroon is ramping up investment in its palm oil sector, with new projects expected to inject significant funding into key production areas while boosting local output.

The construction of a new palm oil processing plant in Lengue, in the Moungo division, and the expansion of a former Socapalm facility in Eséka—recently acquired by Opalm—are expected to channel around 17 billion CFA francs (around $30.6 million) into these two production basins. According to Opalm, the investments could generate more than CFA11 billion in annual income for palm fruit producers.

Speaking on April 8, 2026, during the groundbreaking ceremony in Lengue, Patrice Yantho, coordinator of Opalm’s investment program, said the new plant will have a processing capacity of 25,000 tons per year and cost CFA9 billion. The project is expected to create more than 340 direct and indirect jobs, while guaranteeing annual purchases of palm fruit worth over CFA5 billion from local farmers.

Even before construction begins, Opalm says it has already made significant purchases in the Moungo area. Since 2024, the company has collected more than 10,000 tons of palm fruit, paying over CFA8 billion to producers.

The expected impact is even greater in Eséka. According to Yantho, Opalm has purchased more than 15,000 tons of palm fruit in less than two months, valued at over CFA1.2 billion. The company aims to reach 75,000 tons annually, representing around CFA6 billion in purchases, once a new processing unit is installed. This upgrade will raise production capacity to 25,000 tons, compared with the current 7,000 tons.

Agriculture Minister Gabriel Mbairobe said the investments will not only increase production and farmer incomes but also improve plantation productivity. This will be achieved through a partnership agreement signed in December 2025 between Opalm and the government.

Under the agreement, Opalm will support farmers with fertilizers and high-yield seeds to regenerate plantations. These measures are expected to increase yields to about two tons of palm oil per hectare, up from 500 kilograms currently—a 300% increase.

The Lengue and Eséka projects are part of a broader investment program backed by the government. Opalm plans to build five palm oil processing plants across the country over the next five years, with total investment estimated at CFA45 billion.

The goal is to increase local production by more than 100,000 tons and reduce the country’s palm oil deficit by about 50%, cutting reliance on imports.

“These investments will bring significant added value to our agriculture,” Mbairobe said, noting that the program aligns with the government’s import-substitution strategy aimed at improving the country’s trade balance.

According to the National Institute of Statistics, Cameroon’s trade deficit reached CFA2,145.2 billion in 2025, up 23% year-on-year.

Brice R. Mbodiam, with Business in Cameroon