Market research

Wood charcoal market in Sierra Leone

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The wood charcoal market in Sierra Leone saw steady expansion from 461.9 thousand tons in 2018 to 515.9 thousand tons in 2023. This growth began with the entry of a new local enterprise in 2018 that started producing charcoal from coconut waste, creating an alternative product segment and adding to overall production capacity. The trend continued with the adoption of landmark land laws and protective industrial legislation in 2022, which strengthened community land rights and environmental safeguards, providing a regulatory foundation for more sustainable forest management and charcoal production.

Household consumption remained the dominant source of demand throughout the period. By 2024, the market context included intensified local efforts to combat deforestation from illegal charcoal production, promote tree planting, and develop more efficient charcoal technologies, alongside the ongoing commercialization of coconut-based briquettes as a sustainable alternative.

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 Sierra Leone
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Sierra Leone in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Sierra Leone 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, K 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, K 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, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sierra Leone in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, t
    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 Sierra Leone in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sierra Leone 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, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sierra Leone in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, t
    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 Sierra Leone in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sierra Leone in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sierra Leone in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sierra Leone, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sierra Leone in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sierra Leone in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sierra Leone, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production wood charcoal in Sierra Leone

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Sierra Leone ranked 26th globally in wood charcoal production.

Top producers of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Wood charcoal production in Sierra Leone increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 482.9 thousand tons, marking a 2.3% rise from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 6.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.3%	2.3%	2.3%	2.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wood charcoal from Sierra Leone

Exports in kind, kg

In 2019, Sierra Leone exported 58 937 kg of wood charcoal, representing a sharp increase of 1,126.8% compared to 2018.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	1 126.8%	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, India and Gambia dominated Sierra Leone's wood charcoal exports, together accounting for 100.0% of the total volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, $ US

Sierra Leone's wood charcoal exports reached 29 722 US dollars in 2019, a 967.2% increase from the previous year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	967.2%	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, India and Gambia were the primary export partners in value terms, jointly representing 91.4% of total exports, with other countries making up the remainder.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports wood charcoal to Sierra Leone

Imports in kind, kg

The market showed significant volatility during this period. Imports dropped to their lowest point in 2019 at 615 kg, a 67.3% decline, before climbing to a peak of 5 706 kg in 2020, an 827.8% surge from the previous year. Overall, imports varied by a factor of 9.3 between these years.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	(67.3%)	827.8%	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Lebanon consistently accounted for 78.7% of Sierra Leone's wood charcoal imports by volume, highlighting a high market concentration, while other countries shared the rest.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

Sierra Leone's wood charcoal imports increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import value totaled 12 319 US dollars, a 473.4% rise year-over-year. Between 2018 and 2020, imports grew by 1,237.3%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 137.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	133.2%	473.4%	-

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates accounted for 99.2% of Sierra Leone's wood charcoal imports by value, with the remaining share distributed among other destinations in smaller amounts.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io