Gabon's extractive activities see 4.4% growth in Q4 2025, but annual decline of 2.7%

Gabon's extractive activities experienced a 4.4% increase in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by growth in oil, manganese, and natural gas production, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance's latest sectoral economic report. Commercialized natural gas production notably surged by 14.1% during this period due to sustained demand and fewer technical incidents, solidifying its role as an emerging driver in the sector. Despite this strong quarterly performance, the annual trajectory for 2025 shows a 2.7% decline, indicating that the late recovery was insufficient to offset earlier underperformance, particularly in the oil and manganese segments. Oil production, after three consecutive quarters of decline, rose by 1.6% in the last quarter, supported by improved equipment availability and optimized operations, though its annual production still fell by 2.9%. Manganese production saw a robust 10.8% increase in the fourth quarter, boosted by strong yields from the Moanda and Franceville mining basins. However, logistical constraints, including a slight contraction in evacuation flows to the port of Owendo, contributed to a 2.5% annual decrease for manganese. Natural gas, less exposed to structural disruptions, demonstrated a more measured annual increase of 1.2%, positioning it as a stabilizing force for the national extractive landscape.