Wood fuel market in Western Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The wood fuel market in West Africa expanded steadily from 2018 to 2023, driven by the region's continued reliance on biomass for energy. With frequent power outages averaging 80 hours per month in 2018 and biomass accounting for about half of total primary energy supply, households and artisans maintained strong demand for wood and charcoal. This foundational dependency provided a stable base for market growth.

Initiatives like the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, aiming to deploy 100 million improved stoves by 2020, began shifting consumer preferences toward more efficient solutions. Simultaneously, regional policies under ECOWAS promoted sustainable wood energy management and supply chain modernization. However, the slow development of renewable energy alternatives meant wood fuel remained a critical energy source, especially in rural and poor urban areas.

By 2023, geopolitical tensions, including the exit of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS, further hindered regional energy cooperation, reinforcing reliance on local wood fuel. Coupled with ongoing electrification challenges, these factors supported a consistent annual increase in market volume, reaching 218.4 million m³ by 2023.

Production wood fuel in Western Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, M m³

Top producers of wood fuel, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood fuel, 2017-2020

Wood fuel production in Western Africa has increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 210.0 million cubic meters of wood fuel, which represents a 1.9% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 3.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.2%.

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

Exports wood fuel from Western Africa

Exports in kind, K m³

The data shows irregular fluctuations, indicating a volatile market environment. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with the peak being 7.7 times higher than the low. In 2020, Western Africa exported 26.3 thousand cubic meters of wood fuel, marking a 77.4% decline from the previous year. The highest volume was recorded in 2019 at 116.3 thousand cubic meters, while the largest percentage increase occurred in 2018 at 337.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, China, India, and Portugal remained the main buyers of wood fuel from Western Africa, accounting for 46.6%, 22.3%, and 7.0% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, these three countries represented 75.9% of total exports in kind.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Wood fuel exports from Western Africa declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region exported 6 481 thousand US dollars worth of wood fuel, a 55.8% decrease compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 64.6%, which translates to an average annual decline of 29.3%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 25 497 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase also occurring in 2018 at 39.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey, India, and China were the principal buyers of wood fuel from Western Africa in value terms, accounting for 46.0%, 14.9%, and 10.2% of exports, respectively. Collectively, these three countries made up 71.1% of total exports in value terms.

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

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

Imports wood fuel to Western Africa

Imports in kind, K m³

The market displayed an unstable trend over the observed period. Import volumes varied significantly, with the low in 2017 and the high in 2019 showing a 61-fold difference. In 2020, Western Africa imported approximately 6.9 thousand cubic meters of wood fuel, a steep 97.4% drop from 2019. The maximum volume was recorded in 2019 at 264.6 thousand cubic meters, while the largest percentage increase occurred in 2019 at 3,090.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom was the primary source of wood fuel imports to Western Africa, accounting for 79.2% of total imports in kind. Other destinations contributed to a smaller share of imports.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited volatility during the period under review. Import values reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with the peak being 8.6 times higher than the low. In 2020, wood fuel deliveries to Western Africa amounted to 2 743 thousand US dollars, a sharp 80.4% decline from 2019. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 13 976 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase also occurring in 2019 at 279.1%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the United States formed the key group of partners for wood fuel imports to Western Africa in value terms, accounting for 41.7%, 11.8%, and 10.6% of imports, respectively. Together, these three countries represented 64.1% of total import flows.

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

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