Wood fuel market in Saint Lucia

Earlier Report Observations

The wood fuel market in Saint Lucia contracted consistently from 2018 to 2023, with total market volume declining from 9 550 cubic meters to 8 866 cubic meters. This downward trend reflected a multi-year reduction in both domestic production and overall consumption.

Key factors behind the market's decline included a sharp increase in raw material, production, and transport costs in 2020, which raised the price of wood energy and suppressed consumer demand. Furthermore, a significant 30% reduction in government subsidies for installing domestic wood heating appliances, announced in 2022, removed a key incentive for households to adopt or maintain wood-based heating systems.

These pressures were accompanied by structural shifts such as conflicts over wood resource allocation and increased investment in research for more efficient heating appliances, which influenced the market's trajectory without reversing the overall volume decrease.

Production wood fuel in Saint Lucia

In kind, 2017-2020, m³

Top producers of wood fuel, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood fuel, 2017-2020

Wood fuel production in Saint Lucia has declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 9 234 m³ of wood fuel, reflecting a slight decrease of 1.4% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production decreased by 4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Saint Lucia in kind, 2017-2020, m³

Exports wood fuel from Saint Lucia

Exports in kind, m³

The export market for wood fuel showed volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 2.8-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Saint Lucia's cross-border shipments of wood fuel amounted to 2.7 m³, down by 38.4% from 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 4.4 m³, which also saw the largest increase of 128.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Barbados was the dominant partner for Saint Lucia's wood fuel exports in kind, accounting for 82.1% of total flows. Other markets played a less significant role during this period.

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

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

Exports in value, $ US

The export market in value terms exhibited volatility over the observed period. From the low in 2018 to the high in 2020, export volumes varied 4.5 times. In 2020, Saint Lucia's wood fuel exports reached 2 003 US dollars, representing a sharp gain of 121.6% from the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 444 US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 13.0%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Barbados and Saint Maarten (Dutch part) were the dominant buyers of wood fuel from Saint Lucia in value terms, together accounting for 93.7% of total exports. Other partners formed a less significant background.

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

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

Imports wood fuel to Saint Lucia

Imports in kind, m³

Saint Lucia's wood fuel imports increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country imported 101.4 m³ of wood fuel, representing a 37.6% uptick from 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 60.7 m³, which also saw the largest decline of 39.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States remained the dominant source for Saint Lucia's wood fuel imports in kind, with a share of 78.8% of total flows. The remainder was fragmented across other markets.

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

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

Imports in value, $ US

Wood fuel imports to Saint Lucia increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 64 068 US dollars, indicating a sharp increase of 39.6% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 127.3%, equating to an annualized rate of 31.5%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States was the principal market for wood fuel imports to Saint Lucia in value terms, accounting for 75.0% of total imports. Other destinations formed a less significant tail.

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

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