In January 2025, the General Directorate of Customs (DGD) aims to mobilize 95 billion FCFA, or 8.31% of its annual target of 1,144 billion FCFA. The strategic sectors of Douala and Kribi remain the main drivers of customs revenue collection, while crisis areas remain behind.
The General Directorate of Customs (DGD) is forecasting a collection of 95 billion FCFA for the month of January 2025. This amount represents 8.31% of the annual target set at 1,144 billion FCFA, marking a notable increase compared to the targets of previous years. These forecasts are part of the positive momentum that began in 2023, when customs revenues exceeded 1,000 billion FCFA for the first time, reaching 1,019.8 billion FCFA.
Port sectors, pillars of mobilization
Customs in the Littoral I and South II sectors, covering the ports of Douala and Kribi respectively, take the lion’s share of the revenue expected for January. With a target of 59.202 billion FCFA, Littoral I alone accounts for 62.24% of the total expected this month. This sector remains the main hub for mobilizing national customs revenue. In November 2024, it had even surpassed its forecasts by collecting 68.044 billion FCFA against an initial target of 59.975 billion FCFA, recording an exceptional achievement rate of 113%.
The South II sector, which houses the deep-water port of Kribi, has set itself a target of 25.221 billion FCFA for this first month of the year. These two strategic poles embody the strike force of Cameroonian customs and demonstrate the importance of maritime connectivity for public finances.
Challenges in crisis regions
Beyond the expected performance of the port sectors, other areas show more modest forecasts. The Littoral II and the South-West are targeting collections of 4.486 billion FCFA and 4.113 billion FCFA respectively. On the other hand, the North-West, still affected by a socio-political crisis since 2016, has the lowest target with only 37.1 million FCFA.
Growing ambition for 2025
With an overall target of 1,144 billion FCFA, an increase of 64.1 billion compared to 2024, the DGD intends to continue its upward trajectory. This ambition is part of the constant efforts to modernize and digitalize customs procedures, aimed at maximizing revenue and supporting Cameroon’s public finances. The year 2025 thus begins under the sign of performance, with high expectations to consolidate the achievements of previous years.
In short, January 2025 promises to be decisive for the realization of the financial ambitions of the Cameroonian State. Customs, an essential pillar of tax collection, will not only have to meet the challenge of efficiency, but also navigate through the constraints of regional socio-political contexts.
