Wood fuel market in Guinea

Earlier Report Observations

The wood fuel market in Guinea remained stable with very slight growth between 2018 and 2023, reflecting its entrenched role in the national energy mix. This was underpinned by the country's low access to electricity services, at just 18.1%, with biomass—primarily wood fuel and charcoal—accounting for 80% of energy consumption, especially in rural areas where electrification rates were only 2%. The establishment of the Electricity and Water Regulatory Authority (AREE) in 2018 provided a formal regulatory framework for the energy sector, which included the environmental code governing the production of substances, indirectly affirming the continued scale of traditional fuel use.

A series of major energy infrastructure projects and policy reforms from 2020 onward began to create alternatives, likely tempering any significant expansion in wood fuel demand. The commissioning of the 450 MW Kaleta hydropower dam in 2020 doubled the country's installed electricity capacity. Subsequent government reforms in 2021 aimed at attracting investment into the energy sector, followed by a 2023 agreement with West Africa LNG to supply liquefied natural gas for an additional 1800 MW of power generation, signaled a clear push toward diversifying Guinea's energy sources away from heavy biomass reliance.

The expansion of the mining sector, highlighted by the impending opening of the Simandou mines in 2022, increased overall energy demand but also brought a focus on carbon pricing and sustainable extraction, indirectly relating to broader energy consumption patterns. Concurrently, ongoing government initiatives, including solar power development and budgetary allocations for energy under the 2025-2027 multi-year budget program, reinforced the long-term policy direction of improving electricity access, which over time may influence the traditional wood fuel market.

Production wood fuel in Guinea

In kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Top producers of wood fuel, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood fuel, 2017-2020

Wood fuel production in Guinea increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 12 420 thousand cubic meters of wood fuel, showing only a negligible variation compared to 2019.

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

Exports wood fuel from Guinea

Exports in kind, m³

The market showed signs of volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2020 at 13.5 cubic meters, marking a sharp decrease of 83.9% compared to 2019. In contrast, exports peaked in 2018 at 252.0 cubic meters, representing a 19-fold difference from the 2020 level. The largest annual increase was recorded in 2018 at 377.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Gambia was the principal market for wood fuel exports from Guinea, accounting for 85.6% of total exports in volume terms. Other destinations collectively formed a less significant portion of the export structure.

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

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during this period. Export values dropped to their minimum in 2020 at 3.1 thousand US dollars, showing a sharp year-on-year decline of 92.5%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 66.4 thousand US dollars, representing a 22-fold difference from the 2020 level. The largest annual increase occurred in 2018 at 184.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Gambia remained the principal market for wood fuel exports from Guinea in value terms, accounting for 75.0% of total export revenue. Other destinations together formed a less significant portion of the export structure.

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 fuel to Guinea

Imports in kind, m³

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout this timeframe. Import volumes reached their lowest point in 2017, then fluctuated to reach 169.5 cubic meters in 2020, representing a steep rise of 52.1% compared to 2019. The peak occurred in 2020, showing a 3.2-fold difference from the 2017 low. The largest annual decline was recorded in 2019 at 29.9%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 197.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Indonesia (48.4% of import volume), China (22.6%), and Vietnam (10.1%) continued to be the main suppliers of wood fuel to Guinea. Together, these three countries accounted for 81.1% of total imports in volume terms.

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

There were noticeable fluctuations in import performance during this period. Import values reached their lowest point in 2017, then climbed to 95.9 thousand US dollars in 2020, showing a solid decline of 11.3% compared to the previous year. The peak occurred in 2019 at 108.2 thousand US dollars, representing a 16-fold difference from the 2017 low. The largest annual increase was recorded in 2018 at 1 465.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, two markets—China and Indonesia—played the leading roles in wood fuel imports to Guinea in value terms. Together, they accounted for 86.9% of total import expenditure, while the remainder was distributed among other destinations.

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

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