European Used Cars Inundate Cameroon Market

A recent statistics released by the Societe General de Surveillance (SGS) about 45 000 used cars have been imported into Cameroon a decade ago. The Institution reveals that in 2006 about 17 540 such cars were imported and that the figures doubles to 39 093 in 2013. According to the French daily newspaper Le Quotidian de l’Economie Custom officials at the Douala Sea Port succeeded to obtain 34 billion FCFA from Car importation.

Consequently the number of newly imported cars into Cameroon has dwindled, from 7000 in 2010 to 5000 in 2014 and a possible 4500 in 2015.  

The importation of used cars which have had life span of over 20 years was banned by the Cameroon government to encourage the importation of new ones.

The government went further to institute a 30% tax decrease on importation of new vehicles in the 2011 Finance law. It is evident that Cameroon has become a dumping ground for old and outdated European Cars which are sent into the country on daily basis mostly by ‘Bush fallers’ to their families back home.