Wood charcoal market in Guinea

Earlier Report Observations

Guinea's wood charcoal market volume grew consistently from 412 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 454 thousand tonnes in 2023. This expansion was underpinned by the country's high reliance on biomass, which supplied 77% of primary energy consumption according to a 2020 energy balance, sustaining steady demand for charcoal as an affordable and accessible fuel source. The persistent growth in production occurred despite regulatory calls to limit output to curb deforestation, indicating the strength of underlying consumption needs.

Several initiatives and market dynamics shaped the sector during this period. The 2018 launch of the AgriFARM project aimed at rural development could have indirectly supported the charcoal value chain. In 2019, the formation of the African Green Charcoal Cluster promoted ecological alternatives, highlighting a thematic shift within the industry. By 2022, reports linked intensive wood cutting for charcoal to significant deforestation, a sign of continued production pressure as the activity remained a major income source, especially after the closure of an alumina plant years earlier.

Market regulation evolved with the government's official launch of a price monitoring system in August 2023, intended to improve market oversight. Furthermore, the sector grappled with its largely informal nature and a reported undervaluation of charcoal prices by 20-50%, complicating policy efforts. High demand, influenced by population growth and climate factors like heat waves, continued to drive the market, with a 2024 startup challenge even funding a semi-industrial plant for ecological charcoal, pointing to ongoing activity and innovation in the space.

Production wood charcoal in Guinea

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Guinea ranked as the 28th largest producer of wood charcoal globally.

Top producers of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

Guinea's wood charcoal production increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 427.8 thousand tonnes of wood charcoal, marking a 2.0% gain compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 6%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.0%.

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

Exports wood charcoal from Guinea

Exports in kind, t

The market displayed significant volatility during these years. Exports reached their lowest point in 2020 and peaked in 2018, with volumes varying by a factor of 22. In 2020, Guinea exported 6.5 tonnes of wood charcoal, which was 88.1% lower than in 2019. The maximum volume was recorded in 2018 at 144.7 tonnes, with the largest increase occurring that same year at 321.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Guinea in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Gambia remained the primary market for exports in kind, accounting for 84.4% of total flows, while the remaining volume was distributed among numerous other destinations.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited volatility over the observed period. Exports hit their lowest point in 2020 and peaked in 2018, varying by a factor of 38. In 2020, Guinea exported wood charcoal worth 1.6 thousand US dollars, representing a dramatic year-on-year decline of 96.0%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 60.5 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase occurring that year at 158.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, exports of wood charcoal from Guinea in value terms were largely concentrated on Gambia, which accounted for 74.4% of total flows; other countries together formed the remaining share.

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

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

Imports wood charcoal to Guinea

Imports in kind, t

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Imports dropped to their minimum in 2017 and climbed to their maximum in 2020, with a 472-fold shift. In 2020, Guinea imported 110.2 tonnes of wood charcoal, which was 52.1% higher than in 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 29.9%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 44,175.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Guinea in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Indonesia (54.2% of imports in kind), China (25.4% of imports in kind), and Lebanon (8.5% of imports in kind) consistently remained the main sources for imports in kind, together accounting for 88.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Imports reached their trough in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with an 82-fold gap. In 2020, Guinea's wood charcoal imports stood at 95.9 thousand US dollars, representing a strong decline of 11.4% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 108.2 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase occurring in 2018 at 8,126.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, China and Indonesia together captured 88.5% of total imports in value terms, while the rest of the flows were spread thinly across other markets.

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

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