Wood fuel market in Burundi

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the wood fuel market in Burundi displayed remarkable stability, with annual consumption consistently around 6 million m³. Official reports throughout the period confirmed that wood fuel, including firewood and charcoal, remained the primary domestic energy source for approximately 98% of the population. This deep-seated reliance on traditional biomass underpinned the steady market volume despite various policy initiatives.

During these years, the government's National Development Plan 2018-2027 actively promoted alternatives to reduce wood fuel dependency. Key efforts included the launch of the Umumo w’Iterambere project, which installed solar mini-grids and clean cookstoves, and legislative action such as the 2022 law mandating the substitution of charcoal with carbonized briquettes. The market also saw the entry of a new producer, KAGE (Kaze Green Economy), which began manufacturing ecological charcoal from agricultural residues. Furthermore, a sharp rise in charcoal prices in urban areas like Bujumbura created economic pressure for households to seek substitutes.

The sustained market volume indicates that the penetration of these alternative energy sources and technologies had not yet significantly displaced traditional wood fuel consumption by 2023. The ongoing implementation of hydroelectric projects and the reinforced legal framework for alternative fuels set the stage for potential future shifts, but the market's fundamental structure and size remained unchanged throughout the review period.

Production wood fuel in Burundi

In kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Top producers of wood fuel, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood fuel, 2017-2020

In 2020, Burundi produced 5 999 thousand cubic meters of wood fuel, showing no significant change from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 0.0%, while the largest increase was also recorded in 2018 at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Burundi in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Exports wood fuel from Burundi

Exports in kind, m³

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates was the key partner for exports in kind, accounting for 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, $ US

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

Between 2017 and 2020, exports of wood fuel from Burundi in value terms were highly concentrated on the United Arab Emirates, which accounted for 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports wood fuel to Burundi

Imports in kind, m³

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the period. Import levels fluctuated significantly, with a 2 754-fold difference between the low of 0.01 cubic meters in 2018 and the high of 21.18 cubic meters in 2019. In 2020, Burundi's wood fuel import volume totaled 1.89 cubic meters, showing a fall of 91.1% from the prior year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 99.8%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 275 300.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo held the dominant position in imports in kind, accounting for 86.5% of total flows, with the remaining share distributed among various smaller destinations.

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

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

Imports in value, $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. The highest import value was reached in 2017, with the lowest in 2018, reflecting a 67-fold gap. In 2020, Burundi imported a total of {value_last_year} US dollars of wood fuel, corresponding to a gain of 2 525.5% from a year earlier. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 12 US dollars, with the largest decline also in 2018 at 98.5%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates dominated the partner structure for imports in value terms, with a share of 70.1% of total flows, while other markets had comparatively modest shares.

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

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