Cameroon: CONGELCAM Denounces Tax and Customs Pressure, Warns of Fish Supply Shortages
Cameroon’s leading fish importer, CONGELCAM S.A., has publicly accused state authorities of subjecting it to mounting tax, customs and administrative pressure, warning that recent restrictions could disrupt fish supplies and drive up prices ahead of the year-end festive season.
Speaking during a press briefing on October 15, 2026, company spokesperson Joseph Flavien Kankeu said CONGELCAM has faced a series of fiscal and customs-related measures that have significantly affected its operations in recent years.
Among the issues raised was an ongoing dispute over CFAF 32 billion in allegedly unpaid customs duties, a case the company says continues to weigh heavily on its activities. CONGELCAM also pointed to successive tax reassessments amounting to CFAF 2.2 billion in 2020, CFAF 3.2 billion in 2022 and CFAF 6 billion in 2024, arguing that the cumulative burden has strained the business.
The company further cited losses linked to an incident at the Port of Douala in 2023, where goods contained in 510 disconnected refrigerated containers were allegedly destroyed. CONGELCAM estimates the resulting losses at nearly CFAF 13 billion and says judicial and administrative procedures should establish responsibility and provide compensation where appropriate.
Beyond these disputes, the company questioned what it described as a lack of transparency in the application of customs and tax measures across the fish-import sector. It called on authorities to disclose the customs duties effectively paid by operators and to ensure equal treatment for all market participants.
CONGELCAM also rejected recurring allegations that it enjoys a monopoly position in Cameroon’s fish market. According to the company, several importers hold official licenses, although not all possess the financial and logistical capacity required to supply the market on a large scale.
However, the company’s main concern remains the reduction of its import quota. CONGELCAM said its annual quota was cut from 200,000 tonnes in 2025 to 100,000 tonnes in 2026. Although an additional allocation of 30,000 tonnes was later granted, the company argues that the volume remains insufficient to meet market demand.
The importer maintains that it has substantial storage infrastructure, including facilities capable of holding 104,000 tonnes in Douala and a new 10,000-tonne warehouse in Kribi. Yet it says these investments cannot be fully utilized without corresponding import authorizations.
Warning of possible supply disruptions, CONGELCAM said current restrictions could lead to fish shortages from late November 2026, potentially triggering higher consumer prices during the Christmas and New Year period and extending into the first quarter of 2027.
The company concluded by urging the government to review import quotas, clarify allocation criteria, strengthen transparency and ensure the fair application of tax and customs regulations throughout the sector.
For CONGELCAM, the issue is no longer merely commercial. The company argues that the accumulation of customs disputes, tax assessments and import restrictions now poses a broader risk to food supply and price stability in Cameroon’s fish market.
