Market research

Wood charcoal market in Sao Tome and Principe

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

Wood charcoal production in Sao Tome and Principe showed steady growth from 9 827 t in 2018 to 10 275 t in 2022. This rise was primarily fueled by expanding activity in the Lobata district, which became a major supplier for local consumption. Charcoal production remained an important economic activity for communities, despite ongoing environmental challenges like illegal logging and insufficient enforcement of the existing Law No. 05/2001 that required registration and licensing.

Production continued to increase, reaching 10 392 t in 2023, driven by modernization efforts. The introduction of pyrolysis reactors allowed for more efficient production of ecological charcoal from agricultural waste such as coconut shells. International cooperation projects, including Projeto VEBEE funded by the Portuguese Environmental Fund, further supported this shift by promoting biomass valorization and circular economy principles in the energy sector.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Sao Tome and Principe
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Sao Tome and Principe in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Sao Tome and Principe by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Sao Tome and Principe by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Sao Tome and Principe by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Sao Tome and Principe by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Trade balance
1. 7.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 7.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 7.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 7.2.2. In value, $ US
8. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 8.1. Direct Data
  1. 8.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 8.2. Mirror Data
  1. 8.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production wood charcoal in Sao Tome and Principe

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Sao Tome and Principe produced 10 045 tonnes of wood charcoal, marking a modest 2.2% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 3.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.1%. The most stable year was 2019, with no change in production levels.

Annual dynamics of production in Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.1%	-	2.2%	1.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wood charcoal from Sao Tome and Principe

Based on desk research, Sao Tome and Principe did not export any wood charcoal between 2017 and 2020.

Imports wood charcoal to Sao Tome and Principe

Imports in kind, kg

The market showed an unstable trend during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 100.0 kg, then surged by 95.0% in 2019, and peaked in 2020 at 318.0 kg—a sharp 63.1% rise from the previous year. Overall, import volumes varied by 3.2 times between the high in 2020 and the low in 2018. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a 65.2% drop.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(65.2%)	95.0%	63.1%	3.5%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Portugal and China were the dominant sources for wood charcoal imports into Sao Tome and Principe, together accounting for 90.6% of total import volumes. The remaining share was distributed among other countries.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

Wood charcoal imports into Sao Tome and Principe increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 749.4 US dollars, up 2.8% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports rose by 21.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 6.6%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 451.8 US dollars, which represented a 27.0% decline. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a 61.4% jump.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(27.0%)	61.4%	2.8%	6.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Portugal was the clear leader in wood charcoal imports by value into Sao Tome and Principe, holding 73.0% of the total. Other countries each accounted for significantly smaller shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io