Market research

Wood in the rough market in Middle Africa

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Middle Africa" region includes following countries:

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for wood in the rough in Middle Africa grew steadily from 83.1 million tons in 2018 to 88.6 million tons in 2023. This expansion was primarily driven by regional policies prohibiting the export of unprocessed timber, aimed at boosting local processing. Bans implemented by Equatorial Guinea in 2019 and expanded by CEMAC countries in 2022 successively reduced exports, increasing the availability of wood for the domestic market.

Market value peaked at $19 billion in 2021 before declining to $17.5 billion by 2023, reflecting shifts in prices and market structure. The bankruptcy of the Rougier Afrique group in 2018 reshaped the competitive landscape, and by 2024 the sector faced rising logistics costs due to Red Sea disruptions and increased competition from imported timber, particularly from China.

Policies promoting local processing continued to shape the market, though challenges such as high port fees and certification hurdles persisted for sustainable growth.

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. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Middle Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Middle Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola 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, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola 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, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola 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, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ 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 Middle Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

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

Middle Africa's wood in the rough production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 86,936 thousand tons, marking a 1.4% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 3%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.0%	0.6%	1.4%	1.0%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of wood in the rough output in Middle Africa was $18,175 million, down 2.6% from the year before. The lowest value occurred in 2018 at $17,503 million, while the peak was in 2019 at $18,657 million. The sharpest drop was in 2018 at 3.2%, and the largest gain was in 2019 at 6.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Middle Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.2%)	6.6%	(2.6%)	0.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wood in the rough from Middle Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Wood in the rough exports from Middle Africa have fallen for two consecutive years. In 2020, exports totaled 1,751 thousand tons, a 3.3% decrease from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports dropped by 11.6%, with an average annual decline of 4.0%. The highest volume was in 2018 at 2,134 thousand tons. The most significant decline was in 2019 at 15.2%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 7.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Middle Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.7%	(15.2%)	(3.3%)	(4.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, China and Vietnam were the top destinations for Middle Africa's wood in the rough exports by volume, together accounting for 83.9% of total shipments. The remaining volume was distributed among smaller markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Exports of wood in the rough from Middle Africa have declined for the second year running. In 2020, export value reached $366.0 million, a 7.0% drop from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 13.8%, translating to an average annual decrease of 4.8%. The peak value was in 2018 at $438.0 million. The steepest decline was in 2019 at 10.1%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 3.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.2%	(10.1%)	(7.0%)	(4.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China and Vietnam dominated Middle Africa's wood in the rough exports by value, jointly capturing 90.3% of total flows. The rest was shared among other markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports wood in the rough to Middle Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Import volumes showed significant volatility over these years. Imports hit their lowest point in 2018 at 0.1 thousand tons and peaked in 2017, with a 21-fold difference between these two years. In 2020, imports stood at 1 thousand tons, surging by 509.6% compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 95.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Middle Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(95.3%)	181.6%	509.6%	(7.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, South Africa was the primary source for wood in the rough imports by volume into Middle Africa, holding a 77.6% share of total flows. The remainder was spread across various other destinations.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Import values displayed an unstable pattern throughout this period. They reached their highest point in 2017 and fell to the lowest in 2018, with a 34-fold gap between these years. In 2020, imports totaled $0.0 million, showing a dramatic increase of 501.1% from the previous year. The most significant drop was in 2018 at 97.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(97.1%)	322.3%	501.1%	(9.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa accounted for the majority of wood in the rough imports by value into Middle Africa, with a 75.3% share. The rest was fragmented among other markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io