On May 15, 2025, no shares were traded in the BVMAC equity compartment, while 2,711 shares were awaiting bids. This situation is symptomatic of an illiquid stock market, despite the solid results of some listed companies.
The Central African Stock Exchange (BVMAC) continues to experience serious difficulties in its equity segment. On May 15, 2025, according to the Official Bulletin of the List (BOC) consulted by EcoMatin, 2,711 shares were offered for sale, without any buyers. Of this inactive stock, 1,382 shares concern the Gabonese Commercial Reinsurance Company (SCG-Ré) and 1,322 are from Cameroonian issuers, including Safacam (791 shares), SEMC (436), Socapalm (25), and La Régionale Bank (70).
The BOC highlights a major sticking point: the proposed purchase prices remain systematically lower than the prices requested by sellers. Thus, despite purchase orders on Safacam and Socapalm, no trades have materialized. The purchase volume (428 shares) remains well below the offers. This situation illustrates the chronic illiquidity of the market, where it is becoming difficult to convert shares into cash within a reasonable timeframe.
This lethargy is all the more striking given that some companies are posting remarkable financial results. This is the case for Safacam, which recorded a net profit of 2.781 billion CFA francs in 2024, up 354%, with a dividend of 2,000 CFA francs per share. However, this performance was not enough to stimulate trading. Conversely, La Régionale Bank did not announce any dividend distributions this year.
While the stock market is floundering, the bond market has shown notable dynamism. On May 15, a volume of 1.5 billion FCFA was traded on the “ECMR 5.8% NET 2023-2026” bond issued by the State of Cameroon, demonstrating that investor confidence is shifting toward assets considered safer and more liquid.
