Industrial production decline in third quarter of 2014

Industrial activities in Cameroon have experienced a slight decline in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the quarter before in a monthly report released Wednesday, April 29, 2015 by the National Statistics Institute (INS).

The overall index of industrial production, seasonally adjusted, was down 1.7 %, a situation attributable to the sub-sectors of wood industries, paper and printing (-26.4 %), mining (-5.2 %) as well as intermediate goods and construction (-2.0 %).

The textile and clothing sector, with a decline of 20.5 %, virtually resulted in a real setback with a level of production in the textile subsector, rubber and plastic significantly lower (-17.9 %) compared in Q2 2014.

According to INS, one of the reasons for the fall in production could result from printed fabrics imported from China and particularly severe smuggling from neighboring Nigeria.

The decadence of the Cameroonian industrial activity, however, was dampened by renewed growth in food (+ 10.0%), production and distribution of electricity (+ 13.8 %) and the chemical and oil industries (+2.3 %).