Cameroon-Belgium Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $489.81M total volume •Cameroon deficit: $169.62M

CameroonBelgium

$160.09M

Exports (2023)

BelgiumCameroon

$329.71M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$169.62M

Deficit for Cameroon

Total Trade

$489.81M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Cameroon and Belgium. Green line shows exports from Cameroon, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Cameroon-Belgium commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

CameroonBelgium Exports

$160.09M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
42.6% top product
1Wood, tropical, n.e.c. in item no. 4407.2, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6mm
$68.25M
42.6% of exports
2Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas
$54.44M
34.0% of exports
3Wood, tropical: sapelli, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, thicker than 6mm
$18.64M
11.6% of exports
4Cocoa beans: whole or broken, raw or roasted
$5.00M
3.1% of exports
5Wood, tropical: iroko, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, thicker than 6mm
$4.30M
2.7% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Cameroon's export portfolio to Belgium demonstrates strategic specialization, with wood, tropical, n.e.c. in item no. 4407.2, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6mm representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

BelgiumCameroon Imports

$329.71M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
42.0% concentration
1Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils
$138.52M
42.0% of imports
2Clothing: worn, and other worn articles
$25.99M
7.9% of imports
3Vaccines: for human medicine
$24.23M
7.3% of imports
4Dog or cat food: (not put up for retail sale), used in animal feeding
$17.26M
5.2% of imports
5Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1500 but not over 3000cc
$16.96M
5.1% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Cameroon's import pattern from Belgium reveals significant dependencyin petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Cameroon demonstrates competitive strength in exportingwood, tropical, n.e.c. in item no. 4407.2, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6mm to Belgium, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $489.81M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Cameroon-Belgium Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $489.81 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Cameroon maintains a deficit of $169.62 million
  • Export Focus: Cameroon's primary exports include wood, tropical, n.e.c. in item no. 4407.2, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6mm, petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas, wood, tropical: sapelli, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, thicker than 6mm
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Belgium include petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils, clothing: worn, and other worn articles, vaccines: for human medicine

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $489.81M represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Cameroon leveraging its comparative advantages in wood, tropical, n.e.c. in item no. 4407.2, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6mm.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Cameroon's specialization in wood, tropical, n.e.c. in item no. 4407.2, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6mmcomplements Belgium's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $489.81M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $489.81M bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $489.81 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in wood, tropical, n.e.c. in item no. 4407.2, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6mm and petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Cameroon's trade deficit of $169.62 million impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Moderate concentration in key sectors requires monitoring
Market Competition
Global competition in wood, tropical, n.e.c. in item no. 4407.2, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6mm may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Cameroon and Belgium represents a total trade volume of $489.81 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Cameroon, with imports exceeding exportsby $169.62 million.

Export Strengths

Cameroon's exports to Belgium total $160.09 million, with competitive advantages in wood, tropical, n.e.c. in item no. 4407.2, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6mm, representing $68.25M or42.6% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Belgium amount to $329.71 million, highlighting economic interdependence in petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils, with Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils comprising42.0% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Cameroon's strategic sourcing from Belgium. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Cameroon and Belgium in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023