Particle board of wood market in Africa

Earlier Report Observations

African particle board production remained relatively stable from 2018 to 2023, hovering around 1.26 million m³ before a slight decline to 1.24 million m³. This stability was underpinned by the entry of new local players and the expansion of production capacities in 2019, alongside major investments in modernizing MDF and particle board lines in 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 temporarily delayed the commissioning of new plants, which restrained capacity growth during that period.

The total market volume, however, experienced more pronounced fluctuations, falling from 2.03 million m³ in 2019 to 1.45 million m³ in 2023. The initial contraction in 2020 was linked to reduced demand due to the pandemic. Subsequent market dynamics were shaped by evolving consumer preferences for sustainable and customized furniture, which drove innovation in products like laminated and UV-gloss boards, but also by supply constraints for MDF and tightened regulations on product labeling and traceability.

Environmental factors consistently influenced the industry throughout the period. Stricter sustainable forestry certification requirements and initiatives to generate green energy from wood residue affected production practices. By 2024, growing domestic demand in South Africa and the SADC region, supported by corporate investments in green technologies, indicated a potential pathway for market recovery.

Production particle board of wood in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Top producers of particle board of wood, 2017-2020

World map of production of particle board of wood, 2017-2020

In 2019, Africa's production of particle board of wood reached its peak at 1,262 thousand cubic meters. The following year, in 2020, production remained largely stable, with a slight fluctuation to 1,261 thousand cubic meters. The most significant year-on-year increase occurred in 2018, when production rose by 1.2%.

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

Exports particle board of wood from Africa

Exports in kind, K m³

Africa's exports of particle board of wood have grown for three consecutive years. In 2020, the continent exported 38.4 thousand cubic meters, representing an 89.7% increase compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports surged by 142,301%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 1,025.0%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Australia and France were the leading contributors to Africa's exports of particle board of wood in volume terms, together accounting for 6.8% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Africa's exports of particle board of wood in value terms stood at 30.6 million US dollars, showing no change from the previous year. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 47.0 million US dollars, followed by a decline to 30.6 million US dollars in 2019, which marked the lowest point and a 34.8% decrease. The most significant increase occurred in 2018 with a 22.9% rise. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 19.8%, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -7.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, France, Australia, and Denmark were among the largest buyers of particle board of wood from Africa in value terms, contributing 7.2%, 3.7%, and 0.9% of total exports, respectively. However, their combined share was only 11.8%, indicating a broadly diversified partner base for Africa's exports.

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

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

Imports particle board of wood to Africa

Imports in kind, K m³

Africa's imports of particle board of wood in volume terms showed an unstable trend over the period. The peak was recorded in 2017, followed by a sharp drop to the lowest point in 2018 at 228.0 thousand cubic meters, representing an 84.5% decline and a fluctuation of 6.5 times between these years. In 2019, imports rebounded with a 246.5% increase, but then fell again in 2020 to 596.5 thousand cubic meters, marking a solid drop of 24.5% from the previous year.

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

During 2017–2020, Turkey, Spain, and China formed the largest group of suppliers of particle board of wood to Africa in volume terms, accounting for 15.4%, 10.3%, and 5.9% of total imports, respectively. Their combined contribution was 31.7%, reflecting a diversified country structure for Africa's imports.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Africa's imports of particle board of wood in value terms amounted to 114.0 million US dollars, marking a 10.0% decrease compared to 2019. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 94.2 million US dollars, while the peak occurred in 2019 at 126.7 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 34.5%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 16.8%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey, Spain, and Bulgaria were the primary suppliers of particle board of wood to Africa in value terms, contributing 27.6%, 18.2%, and 7.3% of total imports, respectively. Together, they accounted for 53.2% of Africa's total import value in this category.

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

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