Large companies capture 61% of new CEMAC credit

Large companies captured 60.91% of the CFA2.904 trillion in new credit granted across the CEMAC region in the second quarter of 2026, according to a detailed report published on Friday 23 October by the Bank of Central African States.

Their allocation reached CFA1.769 trillion, up 20.20% over three months. SMEs received CFA571.7 billion, equal to 19.69% of the total and only 1.03% more than in the previous quarter. Loans to individuals fell 7.59% to CFA264.1 billion.

The average cost of all credit fell to 10.99%, from 12.39% in the first quarter and 11.53% a year earlier. SMEs did not share fully in the quarterly easing, as their average effective rate edged up from 11% to 11.15%. It remained well below the 19.10% recorded in the second quarter of 2025.

Individuals continued to face the highest terms, with an average rate of 15.49%. Large companies borrowed at 10.37%, down 1.45 percentage point over three months but up 2.92 points from a year earlier. Fees and commissions represented 31.96% of the total cost of credit and 42.40% for large companies.

Cameroon accounted for 62.83% of new financing, or CFA1.824 trillion. Across the region, credit volume rose 15.66% from the first quarter but remained 6.03% below its level in the second quarter of 2025.