SNH places 71st on Best African Companies ranking

Cameroon’s National Hydrocarbons Corporation, SNH, has secured a significant position on the Central Africa’s best company for 2015. ‘Jeune Afrique’ magazine’s ranking of the best 500 companies published recently has singled out Cameroon’s National Hydrocarbons Corporation SNH as the leader in the sector in terms of business turnover.

However, the continental rating keeps SNH at the 71st position this year, up from the 88th in 2014

The National Oil Refinery, SONARA dropped to the second best company in the country, occupying the 90th position in 2015 against 82nd in 2014 at the African level.

The brewery company, la Société anonyme des Brasseries du Cameroun, SABC, maintains its third position at the national level. It has however dropped from the 230th best in 2014 to the 231st in 2015.

The oil distribution company, Total Cameroun, unseats MTN Cameroon in the 2014 ranking. It is ranked fourth and 263rd in Africa in 2015. However, MTN Cameroon has made strides, given that its performance has improved from 315th in 2014 to 302nd in 2015, occupying the fifth position.

On the other hand, Energy of Cameroon, ENEO, the defunct AES-Sonel, has moved to the sixth best Cameroonian company, occupying the 305th position in 2015 in Africa, up from 324th in 2014.

Tradex, another growing oil distribution company, has maintained its country ranking. It has however improved on the continental scale, moving from 355th in 2014 to 307th in 2015.

Orange Cameroun is at the eighth position, 385th in 2015 at the continental level as against 340th in 2014. Cameroon’s ninth best company, according to ‘Jeune Afrique’, is the CFAO Group.

In 2014, it was 421st as against 425th in 2015. Sonatrach, an Algerian company specialized in hydrocarbons, is best on the continent. Bottom on the table is Semafo Burkina Faso, a Burkinabe company specialized in mineral exploitation.

‘Jeune Afrique’ uses surveys to sample companies’ performance in terms of business turnover and profitability. Results from identified enterprises are then harmonised and classified.

Over 10,966 companies were identified this year, with 9,500 served questionnaires. A data centre of the financial strength of 1,834 companies was established, with 500 emerging best on the continent.

This year’s novelty was the ranking of the most profitable companies, with Orange Cameroun emerging best in Cameroon. Out of 100 companies in Africa, Orange Cameroun stands tall at the 65th position. The company’s net business turnover was evaluated at 16.4 per cent.

Interestingly, Sonatrach, the Algerian company that emerged best continental firm, has no place on the best 100 profitable establishments on the continent, due to the fact that its profits represent only 7.7 per cent of its revenue.