The Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) is finally emerging from the contraction observed during the first three quarters of 2020 due to the health crisis linked to the Coronavirus. The last quarter was marked by the evolution of the prices of the main basic products exported by the countries of the zone.

The fourth quarter of 2020 saw an upturn in the export of raw materials. The overall index increased by 3.5%, driven mainly by the growth in oil prices, which increased by 5.7%. The rise in oil prices by 2.1% and natural gas prices by 22.4% are part of the levers for the rise in prices in general.
In 2021, oil prices are expected to average $44 a barrel, up from estimates for 2020 of $41. According to the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), the price index for agricultural products stood at 112.66 in the fourth quarter against 110.85 the previous quarter.
Rubber registered the strongest increase with a growth of 35.2% at 2.3 $/kg against 1.7 $/kg while palm oil with an increase of 20.57% at 905.3 $ /mt against 750.9 the previous period. The prices of forest products through veneer sheets, plywood, sawn wood and raw wood are the main vectors of this growth. Other products such as cotton, cane sugar, coffee and cocoa have maintained their rank.