Wood fuel market in Lesotho

Earlier Report Observations

The wood fuel market in Lesotho demonstrated steady, incremental growth in volume from 2 141 thousand m³ in 2018 to 2 155 thousand m³ in 2023. This consistent expansion was supported by a gradual annual rise in domestic production, while imports remained minimal and there were no exports throughout the period.

A notable shift in the energy landscape occurred in 2022 with the establishment of the Lesotho Electricity Generation Company (LEGCO), tasked with developing solar power facilities. This move, along with government agreements to set up energy shops for efficiency and solar products in several districts, introduced new alternatives that could influence long-term demand patterns for traditional wood fuel.

Policy efforts to enhance energy security and rural access continued under the extended national development plan into 2023. Furthermore, a slight increase in conventional fuel prices observed in 2024 may have bolstered the relative affordability and appeal of wood fuel for consumers, contributing to its sustained market volume.

Production wood fuel in Lesotho

In kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Top producers of wood fuel, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood fuel, 2017-2020

Lesotho's wood fuel production has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 2,145 thousand cubic meters of wood fuel, which remained virtually unchanged from the previous year, 2019.

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

Exports wood fuel from Lesotho

Exports in kind, m³

The market for wood fuel exports from Lesotho showed significant volatility during this period. In 2018, exports reached their lowest point at 0.0 cubic meters, while in 2019, they peaked at 16 cubic meters, representing a dramatic 40,700% increase from the previous year. By 2020, exports had dropped sharply to just 1 cubic meter, marking a 91.3% decrease compared to 2019. The difference between the peak in 2019 and the trough in 2018 was a staggering 408-fold.

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

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa was the sole buyer of wood fuel from Lesotho, accounting for 100% of total exports in kind.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values in monetary terms exhibited irregular fluctuations, reflecting a volatile market environment. In 2018, values hit a minimum of 0.0 thousand US dollars, while in 2019, they surged to a maximum of 1.6 thousand US dollars, an increase of 7,944% from the previous year. By 2020, exports had declined to 0.8 thousand US dollars, down 46.7% from 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2018, at 71.9%. The shift from the peak in 2019 to the trough in 2018 represented an 80-fold change.

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

Throughout the 2017–2020 period, South Africa dominated the export structure in value terms, consistently representing 100% of total flows.

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

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

Imports wood fuel to Lesotho

Imports in kind, m³

After two years of growth, Lesotho's wood fuel import volume declined. In 2018, imports increased by 70.0%, reaching a maximum of 1,400 cubic meters in 2019. However, by 2020, imports had fallen to 864 cubic meters, a 38.3% decrease from 2019. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 9.9%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 3.2%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the import structure in kind was primarily shaped by South Africa and Namibia, which together accounted for 77.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Import values in monetary terms showed signs of volatility over the observed period. In 2017, values were at a trough, rising to a peak of 334.8 thousand US dollars in 2018, a 155.3% increase from the previous year. By 2019, they had declined by 37.1%, and in 2020, they dropped further to 147.1 thousand US dollars, a sharp 30.2% decrease from 2019. The change from the peak in 2018 to the trough in 2017 represented a 2.6-fold difference.

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

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa and Namibia played leading roles in Lesotho's wood fuel imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 79.5% of total flows.

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

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