Wood charcoal market in Burundi

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the wood charcoal market volume in Burundi remained stable at 264 thousand tons. During this period, wood charcoal continued to be the primary domestic energy source, used by 95% of households, which sustained steady demand. The absence of modern industrial production units limited capacity expansion, while deforestation pressures from charcoal and firewood harvesting persisted.

A sharp market expansion occurred in 2021, with volume jumping 41% to 373.4 thousand tons, followed by moderate growth to 379.6 thousand tons in 2022 and 385.8 thousand tons in 2023. This rise aligned with the initial commercialization of Amakara-Bio ecological charcoal from household waste in 2020 and the establishment of new ecological charcoal production plants by young entrepreneurs, such as KAGE, in 2022. Furthermore, in 2023 the government launched a project to substitute wood charcoal with carbonized peat briquettes to protect forests, encouraging alternative fuel development.

By 2024, market dynamics included sustained price increases and continued forest pressure due to high charcoal consumption. Fuel shortages disrupted transportation, causing scarcity and further price hikes, while the government, in partnership with UNDP, supported production of briquettes from agricultural residues.

Production wood charcoal in Burundi

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

In 2020, Burundi produced 264.0 thousand tons of wood charcoal, showing virtually no change from 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2018, at 0.0%, while the largest increase was also recorded in 2018, at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Burundi in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports wood charcoal from Burundi

Exports in kind, kg

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Burundi in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, exports in kind were heavily concentrated on the United Arab Emirates, which accounted for 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, $ US

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

During 2017–2020, the United Arab Emirates effectively monopolized exports in value terms of wood charcoal from Burundi, capturing 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports wood charcoal to Burundi

Imports in kind, kg

The market exhibited volatility over the observed period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2017, with a 428-fold difference between these years. In 2020, wood charcoal shipments to Burundi from abroad totaled 818 kg, marking a sharp decline of 99.8% compared to 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Burundi in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of imports in kind was primarily shaped by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Arab Emirates, which together accounted for 97.3% of total flows; other markets formed a long tail.

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

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

Imports in value, $ US

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Imports hit a low in 2018 and a high in 2017, varying by a factor of 36. In 2020, foreign wood charcoal supplies to Burundi totaled 385 US dollars, representing a reduction of 97.2% from the previous year.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, the country structure of imports in value terms was dominated by the United Arab Emirates, which accounted for 84.6% of total flows, while other destinations were relatively small.

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

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