Soap imports in Cameroon: data, top suppliers and prices
Cameroon imported $6.1 million of soap in 2024 (3.1 thousand tonnes). That is 16% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $7.7 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6.1M | 3.1K t |
| 2023 | $7.2M | 6.1K t |
| 2022 | $4.8M | 4.0K t |
| 2021 | $7.7M | 5.7K t |
| 2020 | $6.8M | 4.9K t |
| 2019 | $7.0M | 4.5K t |
| 2018 | $7.0M | 4.7K t |
| 2017 | $6.8M | 4.6K t |
Where Cameroon imports soap from
Most of the value came from China (22%), France (20%), Indonesia (20%). Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+132% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.3M | 22% |
| France | $1.2M | 20% |
| Indonesia | $1.2M | 20% |
| Turkey | $838K | 14% |
| India | $644K | 11% |
| Malaysia | $377K | 6.2% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $105K | 1.7% |
| Belgium | $87K | 1.4% |
| Spain | $65K | 1.1% |
| Italy | $51K | 0.8% |
Product types under HS 3401
| 3401.11 | Toilet bar soap | 55% |
| 3401.19 | Industrial bar soap | 23% |
| 3401.30 | Liquid skin wash | 14% |
| 3401.20 | Liquid and cream soap | 8.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3401.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.93 per kg, close to the world average of $2.31.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Soap exports from Cameroon
Exports of soap by Cameroon reached $269 thousand in 2024 (852 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Central African Republic accounted for 92% of the value.
Who is behind these numbers in Cameroon?
The shipment records behind Cameroon soap imports (HS 3401): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 3401: Soap; organic surface-active preparations used as soap, skin washing, in bars, cakes, moulded pieces, shapes, liquid or cream, containing soap or not; for retail, paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent.
Common questions
What is the value of soap imported by Cameroon?
Cameroon imported soap worth $6.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 3.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 152nd of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 16% on 2023.
Which countries supply soap to Cameroon?
China was the largest supplier with 22% of the value ($1.3 million), followed by France (20%) and Indonesia (20%). The top three together account for 61%, out of 26 supplier countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 132% on the year.
What is the average import price of soap per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.93 per kg in 2024, 16% below the world average of $2.31 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of soap to Cameroon changed since 2017?
Imports went from $6.8 million in 2017 to $6.1 million in 2024, a fall of 11%. The peak was 2021 at $7.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $6.7 million a year.
Does Cameroon also export soap?
Yes. Cameroon exported $269 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the Central African Republic, Canada and France. On balance Cameroon is a net importer of this product, by about $5.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for soap?
The HS code for soap is heading 3401. In Cameroon the largest six-digit codes were 3401.11 (55% of the value) and 3401.19 (23%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for Cameroon, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
Soap product types in Cameroon
More trade data for Cameroon
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