Yet, supply indicators remain positive. The Ministry of Trade confirms that nearly 47,000 tonnes of raw salt were offloaded at the Douala port between January and February 2026. With national demand estimated at 13,000 tonnes per month, current stocks comfortably cover the country’s needs for the next quarter. This paradox between massive availability upstream and shortages on the shelves suggests a major breakdown in the distribution chain.

Faced with this situation, authorities are pointing to a clear culprit: speculation orchestrated by certain wholesalers. The government accuses these operators of voluntarily withholding stocks to simulate a shortage and force an increase in profit margins. For its part, the African Salt Company (Sasel), the country's main industrial processor, has sought to reassure the public regarding the stability of its rates, specifying that factory-gate prices have remained unchanged.

This tension once again highlights Cameroon's vulnerability due to its dependence on imports, which cost the public treasury approximately 50 billion FCFA annually. To break this speculative cycle, the Ministry of Trade has intensified its control operations. Specialized brigades are currently patrolling markets to track down stock hoarding and sanction unscrupulous traders. A return to normalcy is expected within two weeks, once available volumes are forcibly reinjected into the retail circuit.

CK