Wood charcoal market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Earlier Report Observations

The wood charcoal market in Eastern Europe expanded from 187 thousand tons in 2018 to 236 thousand tons in 2021, a 26% increase in volume. This growth was primarily driven by reduced export shipments in 2019 and 2020 due to changes in international trade flows and logistical constraints during the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased domestic availability. In 2021, despite ongoing sanctions, production rose, further supporting market expansion.

In 2022, market volume contracted to 223 thousand tons as geopolitical tensions and sanctions led to a significant drop in production and altered export patterns. The closure of large facilities in the Ural Federal District contributed to this decline. The market then stabilized at a similar level in 2023, as new producers entered the market and legislative changes helped offset earlier losses.

In value terms, the market grew more sharply, from $148 million in 2018 to $253 million in 2023, reflecting both higher prices and shifts in consumption structure.

Production wood charcoal in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

Following a two-year decline, wood charcoal production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) rebounded in 2020. That year, the region produced 372.8 thousand tons of wood charcoal, marking a 12.4% increase compared to 2019. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, overall production actually decreased by 5%, translating to an average annual decline of 1.7%. The lowest production volume was recorded in 2019 at 331.6 thousand tons, while the sharpest year-on-year drop occurred in 2018 with an 8.6% decrease.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of wood charcoal output in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) reached 288.4 million US dollars, representing a significant 21.2% year-over-year increase. Over the four-year span from 2017 to 2020, production value grew by 9.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.0%. The lowest value was observed in 2019 at 237.9 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 10.5% during this period.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports wood charcoal from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, K t

Wood charcoal exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the second consecutive year in 2020. The region exported 279.4 thousand tons that year, reflecting a 12.2% reduction compared to 2019. The highest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 362.7 thousand tons, which also experienced the largest increase of 30.6%. Conversely, the most significant decline occurred in 2019 with a 12.2% drop.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, wood charcoal from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) was exported to a diverse range of markets. Even the top three destinations—Germany, France, and Belgium—collectively accounted for only 38.4% of total export volumes, highlighting the broad distribution of trade partners.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of wood charcoal exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) reached 208.3 million US dollars, showing a substantial 18.6% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value grew by 17.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 175.7 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 17.4%. The peak value occurred in 2018 at 212.8 million US dollars, accompanied by the highest increase of 19.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The export market in value terms from 2017 to 2020 was characterized by its diversity. Germany, France, and Sweden—accounting for 32.0%, 8.3%, and 5.2% of export value respectively—together represented just 45.5% of total flows. The remaining 54.5% was distributed among numerous other countries, underscoring the wide base of trading partners.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020

Imports wood charcoal to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, K t

Wood charcoal imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the second year in a row in 2020. Imports amounted to 108.3 thousand tons that year, reflecting a dramatic 39.1% decrease compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 21%, with an average annual decline of 7.6%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 190.9 thousand tons, which also saw the largest increase of 39.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Namibia were key suppliers of wood charcoal to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia), contributing 21.5%, 5.9%, and 2.5% of import volumes respectively. However, their combined share reached only 30.0% of total imports, with the remaining 70.0% sourced from a wide array of other partners.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Wood charcoal imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the second consecutive year in 2020. The region imported 89.7 million US dollars worth of wood charcoal that year, remaining virtually unchanged from 2019. However, over the broader 2017-2020 period, import value increased by 31.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.7%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 95.2 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 40.0%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019 with a 5.6% drop.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017-2020, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Namibia were the leading suppliers of wood charcoal to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value terms, accounting for 13.4%, 12.0%, and 1.6% of imports respectively. Together, they represented 27.0% of total import value, while the majority—73.0%—came from a broad spectrum of other trading partners.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020