Congolese food industries are recording a contraction in their activity. According to the economic situation report published in September 2026 by the Directorate General of Economy (DGE), their turnover declined by 11,8% to 89,9 billion FCFA in the second quarter 2026.
This decline represents a loss of 12 billion FCFA in revenue over one year. It primarily affects flour mills and manufacturers of flour-based products in an environment marked by energy supply difficulties and logistical constraints.
Flour mills are among the most affected sectors. Their turnover fell by 19,5% to 18,7 billion FCFA.
This underperformance is accompanied by a 17% decrease in wheat flour production. The DGE notably attributes this trend to transport difficulties, electricity supply disruptions, and constraints weighing on the production chain.
The manufacturing of flour-based products also accounts for a significant portion of the sector's contraction. Its turnover decreased by 11,2% to 60,8 billion FCFA.
The decline mainly concerns the bakery sector, where sales fell by 11,3%, but also extends to pastry and donut production activities. These developments weigh on a branch that accounts for most of the revenue of the food industries monitored by the DGE.
The sugar industry presents a more contrasting situation. Despite a 23,6% increase in production, its turnover contracted slightly to 9,1 billion FCFA.
Conversely, manufacturers of other food products, particularly those intended for animal feed, recorded an improvement in their commercial performance. These differences illustrate the divergent trajectories of food processing companies.
This contraction occurs as authorities anticipate 3,1% growth in the food industries for the entire year 2026. The recovery of flour mills and cereal product manufacturers appears decisive in achieving this forecast.
Their difficulties underscore the constraints that local processing continues to face, despite being expected to occupy an increasing role in the diversification of the Congolese economy. Idrissa Diakité Published on 14/10/26 12:33 The Editorial Staff