Non coniferous sawnwood market in Bolivia

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2019, the market for non-coniferous sawnwood in Bolivia expanded from 413.8 thousand m³ to 434.7 thousand m³. This growth was supported by a tightening enforcement environment against illegal timber, which encouraged sawmills to formalize their operations with certificates of origin. Concurrently, rising domestic demand from the construction sector, a trend first noted in market studies from 2019, began to pull more production toward the local market, sustaining overall market volume despite the industry's fragmented structure dominated by small-scale sawmills.

The market contracted sharply to 335.8 thousand m³ in 2020 and further to 303.4 thousand m³ in 2021. The initial drop was directly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted international logistics and raised export costs, prompting some sawmill operators to redirect output to the domestic sector. However, this shift was quickly overshadowed by a strategic push for exports, led by the Bolivian Forestry Chamber's success in opening new markets in Cuba and several Asian countries. This initiative drove a significant increase in export volumes, which rose from 64.3 thousand m³ in 2020 to 96.6 thousand m³ in 2021, effectively drawing supply away from the domestic market and reducing its size.

From 2022, production stabilized at 400 thousand m³ annually, but the domestic market continued to shrink, falling to 236.3 thousand m³ in 2023. This was primarily due to sustained export growth, which reached 163.7 thousand m³ in 2023. This export expansion was fueled by improved administrative efficiency in production and transport processes, as well as the signing of new supply contracts with buyers in China and Vietnam following targeted trade promotion. Concurrently, regulatory evolution continued, with updated labeling rules requiring detailed species and origin information on each piece, strengthening traceability standards for both domestic and international sales.

Production non coniferous sawnwood in Bolivia

In kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Top producers of non coniferous sawnwood, 2017-2020

World map of production of non coniferous sawnwood, 2017-2020

In 2020, Bolivia produced 400.0 K m³ of non-coniferous sawnwood, marking a 12.9% decline from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production decreased by 12.9%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -4.5%. The largest increase occurred in 2018, at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Bolivia in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Exports non coniferous sawnwood from Bolivia

Exports in kind, K m³

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Exports peaked in 2017 and reached their lowest point in 2019, with a fourfold difference between these years. In 2020, Bolivia's non-coniferous sawnwood exports totaled 64.3 K m³, representing a sharp increase of 160.8% compared to 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 24.6 K m³, while the largest decline occurred in 2018 at 53.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bolivia in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

From 2017 to 2020, China (47.2% of exports in volume), Brazil (29.2%), and the United States (3.5%) were the main markets for Bolivia's non-coniferous sawnwood exports, collectively accounting for 79.9% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Bolivia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Bolivia's non-coniferous sawnwood export values increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 29 322 K US dollars, a sharp rise of 117.1% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 134.7%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 32.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bolivia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017-2020, China (55.0% of exports in value), the United States (7.0%), and Uruguay (6.8%) were the principal buyers of Bolivia's non-coniferous sawnwood, together making up 68.8% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Bolivia in value, 2017-2020

Imports non coniferous sawnwood to Bolivia

Imports in kind, K m³

Market behavior was characterized by volatility in these years. Imports reached their highest level in 2017 and their lowest in 2020, with an 8 397-fold difference. In 2020, Bolivia's non-coniferous sawnwood imports were recorded at 0.1 K m³, a sharp fall of 68.7% compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 100.0%, while the largest increase was in 2019 at 45.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bolivia in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

From 2017 to 2020, Bolivia's non-coniferous sawnwood imports in volume were highly concentrated, with Brazil accounting for 100.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Bolivia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Market performance exhibited noticeable fluctuations during this period. Import values climbed to their maximum in 2017 and dropped to a minimum in 2020, a fourfold shift. In 2020, Bolivia's non-coniferous sawnwood imports reached 77 K US dollars, down by 50.5% from a year earlier. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 51.8%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 5.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bolivia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2017-2020, Brazil played a leading role in Bolivia's non-coniferous sawnwood imports by value, with a share of 71.5% of total flows, while the remainder was distributed across other partners.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Bolivia in value, 2017-2020