About 78,000 metric tons of fish are caught annually. Offshore petroleum exploitation began in the late 1970s, and an oil refinery has been built. Cameroon's output of crude petroleum, mostly for export, exceeded 60 million barrels a year in the early 1990s. Small amounts of tin concentrates are also produced. The unit of currency of Cameroon is the CFA franc, consisting of 100 centimes.
Petroleum accounts for more than half of export revenues.
France, the Netherlands, Germany, and the U.S. are the leading trade partners. Unpaved roads are frequently impassable during the rainy season. Cameroon Airlines provides domestic and international service. The federal ministers, including the prime minister, are appointed by the president, who also appoints the governors of the 10 provinces. Multiparty elections for local offices were held in January 1996 and legislative elections in May 1997.