Market research

Wood in the rough market in Kenya

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, the government's clarification that the logging ban was limited to public and community lands, allowing harvesting on private plantations under verification, helped maintain stable production volumes around 17 800 thousand tons. However, in 2020, production fell to 16 846 thousand tons, a decline of over 5%.

After a slight further dip in 2021, the market began to recover, with production reaching 17 003 thousand tons in 2023. This growth was driven by a substantial increase in timber sales from government forest lands, which jumped from 378 thousand m³ in 2022 to 1.5 million m³ in 2023, boosting domestic supply.

By 2024, new regulatory measures were implemented, including a Digital Timber Tracker System to combat illegal trade and changes in timber movement permit fees. The approval of the Affordable Housing Act aims to stimulate construction, while a reported timber deficit of 45 million m³ demand against 30 million m³ supply indicates ongoing market pressure.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Kenya
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production wood in the rough in Kenya

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Kenya ranked as the 30th largest producer of wood in the rough globally.

Top producers of wood in the rough, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of wood in the rough, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Kenya produced 16 846 K t of wood in the rough, representing a modest year-on-year decrease of 5.5%. Over the 2017-2020 period, production declined by 5.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.9%. The largest increase occurred in 2018, at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	-	-	(5.5%)	(1.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wood in the rough from Kenya

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2020, showing a 4.8-fold variation between these years. In 2020, Kenya exported 342 t of wood in the rough, a significant increase of 138.9% compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 26.9%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 174.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	174.6%	(26.9%)	138.9%	68.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates and Uganda dominated Kenya's exports of wood in the rough in kind, jointly accounting for 80.2% of total flows, with other countries holding much smaller shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. The lowest value was recorded in 2019, while the peak occurred in 2018, with an 8.2-fold amplitude between these years. In 2020, Kenya exported 16 K $ US of wood in the rough, marking a steep year-on-year gain of 138.5%. The minimum value was 7 K $ US in 2019, and the maximum was 53 K $ US in 2018. The largest decline was in 2019 at 87.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	83.5%	(87.7%)	138.5%	(18.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Uganda (60.9% of exports in value terms), the United Arab Emirates (17.1%), and Oman (10.0%) were the main markets for Kenya's exports of wood in the rough in value terms, jointly representing 88.1% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports wood in the rough to Kenya

Imports in kind, t

Foreign supplies of wood in the rough to Kenya increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 4 078 t, showing a small increase of 1.9% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 1006.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 122.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	638.4%	47.0%	1.9%	122.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa accounted for 87.6% of total imports in kind, with the remaining flows distributed among a broad group of smaller countries.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Imports of wood in the rough into Kenya increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totalled 1 821 K $ US, equivalent to a robust rise of 14.6% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 604.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 91.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	430.5%	15.9%	14.6%	91.7%

Source: SHEV.io

In 2017-2020, South Africa held a dominant position in imports in value terms, accounting for 87.1% of total flows, while the remaining share was split among various smaller destinations.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io