Non coniferous sawnwood market in Central African Republic

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, national legislation required forestry concession holders to process 70% of harvested logs from main species locally, helping maintain non-coniferous sawnwood production around 40 390 m³. The domestic market consumed an estimated 67 000 m³ of sawnwood annually, half of which was supplied by an informal artisanal sector not covered by the EU's FLEGT voluntary partnership agreement aimed at ensuring timber legality. From 2019 through 2022, production remained stable at 40 000 m³ per year, while the domestic market volume gradually declined from 38 623 m³ to 35 270 m³.

A major shift occurred in 2023 when production jumped 50% to 60 000 m³. This surge was directly driven by a policy decision from November 2022 to progressively raise the mandatory local timber processing rate to 80%, with a target of 90% in 2024. The measure prompted companies to ramp up output. However, almost all the additional volume was exported, causing exports to soar to 47 696 m³. Consequently, despite higher production, the domestic market volume collapsed to 12 634 m³, coinciding with reported weakening demand and regulatory pressures in the Central African regional timber market.

Looking ahead, authorities introduced a ban on the export of wood-fuel in May 2024 and discussed proposals to formalize the artisanal sawmill sector. The country remained a significant player in regional timber trade, and the policy goal of achieving 90% local processing in 2024 stayed in effect.

Production non coniferous sawnwood in Central African Republic

In kind, 2017-2020, m³

Top producers of non coniferous sawnwood, 2017-2020

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

In 2019, the Central African Republic produced 42 000 m³ of non-coniferous sawnwood. This fell to 40 000 m³ in 2020, representing a 4.8% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production declined by 20%, which translates to an average annual reduction of 7.2%. The most significant drop occurred in 2018, when production fell by 19.2%, while 2019 saw the largest increase at 4.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Central African Republic in kind, 2017-2020, m³

Exports non coniferous sawnwood from Central African Republic

Exports in kind, m³

In 2019, the Central African Republic exported 3 410 m³ of non-coniferous sawnwood. This dropped to 2 990 m³ in 2020, a decline of 12.3% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 31.4%, with an average annual rate of 11.8%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 2 941 m³, which also saw the largest decline of 32.5%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the biggest increase at 15.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central African Republic in kind, 2017-2020, m³

From 2017 to 2020, France, China, and Germany were the three main markets for non-coniferous sawnwood exports from the Central African Republic, collectively accounting for 84.6% of total export volumes.

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

World map of product's exports from Central African Republic in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

After declining for two consecutive years, non-coniferous sawnwood exports from the Central African Republic rebounded in 2020. Export value reached 2 788 thousand US dollars, up 2.8% from 2019. However, over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 36.6%, averaging an annual decline of 14.1%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 2 713 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest drop of 32.2%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, France, China, and Germany dominated the export market in value terms. France accounted for 42.2% of exports, China for 31.1%, and Germany for 11.7%, together making up 85.1% of total export value.

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

World map of product's exports from Central African Republic in value, 2017-2020

Imports non coniferous sawnwood to Central African Republic

Imports in kind, m³

The import market for non-coniferous sawnwood in the Central African Republic showed considerable volatility from 2017 to 2020. Imports peaked in 2018 at 613 m³, then plummeted to 13 m³ in 2019, marking a 97.9% year-over-year drop. The difference between the peak in 2018 and the trough in 2019 was 47-fold. The largest increase occurred in 2018, rising by 37.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central African Republic in kind, 2017-2020, m³

During the 2017-2020 period, China and Denmark were the primary sources for non-coniferous sawnwood imports into the Central African Republic, together representing 98.2% of total import volumes, with other countries accounting for the remainder.

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

World map of product's imports to Central African Republic in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Import values for non-coniferous sawnwood in the Central African Republic were highly volatile from 2017 to 2020. Imports reached their highest point in 2018 at 1 196 thousand US dollars, then fell sharply to 11 thousand US dollars in 2019, a decrease of 99.1% from the previous year. The peak in 2018 was 106 times higher than the trough in 2019. The largest increase was recorded in 2018, surging by 204.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, China was the leading supplier of non-coniferous sawnwood to the Central African Republic in value terms, accounting for 75.2% of total imports. The remaining imports were distributed among various other countries.

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

World map of product's imports to Central African Republic in value, 2017-2020