Market research

Wood fuel market in Africa

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Africa" region includes following countries:

Algeria

Libya

Morocco

Sudan

Western Sahara

Tunisia

Egypt

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Earlier Report Observations

The African wood fuel market grew steadily in volume from 696 million m³ in 2018 to 731 million m³ in 2023. This expansion was primarily driven by increasing total energy demand across the continent, as reported by the African Energy Commission (AFREC), which highlighted wood fuel's role as a key traditional energy source. The intra-African agricultural trade also contributed to sustaining demand for wood fuel in certain regions.

By 2024, the energy landscape began to shift with accelerated investment in renewable technologies and major infrastructure projects in solar and natural gas. These developments, alongside emerging carbon credit markets linked to forest resources, introduced new economic incentives and policy measures aimed at energy security and sustainability, potentially influencing future wood fuel consumption patterns.

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. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Africa in kind, 2018-2023, M m³
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, M m³
  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, M m³
  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, K m³
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K m³
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K m³
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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/m³
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K m³
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K m³
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K m³
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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/m³
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K m³
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K m³
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K m³
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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/m³
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K m³
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K m³
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K m³
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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/m³
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K m³
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K m³
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ 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 fuel in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, M m³

Top producers of wood fuel, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of wood fuel, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Africa's wood fuel production has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the continent produced 712.7 million cubic meters of wood fuel, showing a slight year-over-year rise of 0.9%. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 2.8%, which translates to an annualized rate of 0.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Africa in kind, 2017-2020, M m³

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.0%	0.9%	0.9%	0.9%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Africa's wood fuel production has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 73 128 million US dollars, up by 1.2% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production rose by 22.8%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 7.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.1%	16.6%	1.2%	7.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wood fuel from Africa

Exports in kind, K m³

Africa's wood fuel exports have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 2 526 thousand cubic meters, marking a year-over-year decrease of 17.6%. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 47.3%, with an annualized decline rate of 19.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(16.3%)	(23.6%)	(17.6%)	(19.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Japan, China, and India were the principal buyers of wood fuel from Africa, accounting for 51.2%, 7.2%, and 5.3% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, they represented 63.7% of total exports in kind.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Africa's wood fuel exports have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports were valued at 259.2 million US dollars, showing a strong year-over-year drop of 17.3%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 37%, with a compound annual growth rate of -14.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(13.8%)	(11.7%)	(17.3%)	(14.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Japan, China, and the United Kingdom played leading roles in Africa's wood fuel exports by value, accounting for 47.0%, 7.1%, and 5.2% of exports, respectively. Together, they made up 59.3% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports wood fuel to Africa

Imports in kind, K m³

The market for wood fuel imports into Africa showed significant volatility during these years. In 2018, imports bottomed at 143 thousand cubic meters, then peaked in 2019 at 626 thousand cubic meters, representing a 4.4-fold difference. In 2020, imports reached 264 thousand cubic meters, marking a steep contraction of 57.8% compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 68.6%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 338.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(68.6%)	338.0%	(57.8%)	(16.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom, Special Categories, and China were the primary suppliers of wood fuel to Africa, accounting for 4.4%, 0.9%, and 0.7% of imports in kind, respectively. Together, they represented 6.0% of total imports in kind.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

After a two-year improvement, Africa's wood fuel imports declined. In 2020, imports were recorded at 66.8 million US dollars, down by 27.1% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 4.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.5%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 91.6 million US dollars, and the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 25.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	25.4%	14.4%	(27.1%)	1.5%

Source: SHEV.io

The structure of wood fuel imports into Africa by value from 2017 to 2020 was diversified. China, the United Kingdom, and Indonesia accounted for 12.0%, 3.1%, and 1.8% of imports, respectively, totaling 16.9% of total flows. No single country held a clearly dominant position during this period.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io