Wood in the rough market in Mozambique

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018, the Mozambican government implemented price monitoring for wood products through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, ensuring market transparency. In 2019, the introduction of Law No. 14/2016 prohibited the export of unprocessed logs and established fees for processed wood exports, altering trade flows and contributing to a stable domestic market volume around 12.1 million tons.

The restrictive forest legislation continued through 2020, accompanied by government actions to strengthen the native wood value chain. Persistent illegal logging and significant seizures in 2021 by the Environmental Quality Control Agency further tightened supply controls, leading to minor adjustments in market size within a narrow range.

Government campaigns to transform the agricultural and forestry sector in 2022 and maintained control policies in 2023 supported ongoing market stability. Academic studies in 2024 on sawmill production capacity and the impact of legislation highlighted the regulated framework sustaining the wood in the rough market.

Production wood in the rough in Mozambique

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wood in the rough, 2017-2020

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

In 2020, Mozambique produced 12 160 K t of wood in the rough, showing nearly no change from 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2018, at 0.0%, while the largest increase was also recorded in 2018, at 0.0%.

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

Exports wood in the rough from Mozambique

Exports in kind, t

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Exports peaked in 2017 and reached their lowest point in 2020, with a 4.4-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Mozambique's foreign wood in the rough supplies totaled 6 032 t, marking a 69.3% decline from the previous year. The largest increase was recorded in 2019, at 93.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the structure of exports in kind was dominated by a single market: China, which accounted for 90.1% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited volatility over the observed period. Exports varied by 10.1-fold, with a high in 2019 and a low in 2018. In 2020, Mozambique's exported wood in the rough volumes amounted to 3 699 K $ US, reflecting a sharp fall of 85.2% compared to the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 2 476 K $ US, while the maximum was in 2019 at 24 949 K $ US. The largest increase occurred in 2019, at 907.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, China was the almost exclusive buyer of wood in the rough from Mozambique, taking 97.3% of total exports in value terms.

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

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

Imports wood in the rough to Mozambique

Imports in kind, t

The market showed signs of volatility during these years. Import volumes reached their maximum in 2018 and dropped to a minimum in 2017, a 6.5-fold shift. In 2020, Mozambique's foreign wood in the rough supplies totaled 18 939 t, constituting a fall of 21.7% year-over-year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 39 367 t. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 38.5%, while the largest increase was in 2018, at 548.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa was the key supplier of wood in the rough to Mozambique, taking 71.0% of total imports in kind, with a diversified group of other countries accounting for the remainder.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Import volumes peaked in 2018 and sank to the lowest volume in 2017, with a top-to-bottom ratio of 49 times. In 2020, Mozambique's volume of wood in the rough imports amounted to 5 438 K $ US, which is 27.5% less than the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 91 588 K $ US. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 91.8%, while the largest increase was in 2018, at 4 810.9%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Eswatini and South Africa remained the key partner countries for imports in value terms, with a combined share of 97.1% of total flows; other partners accounted for the rest.

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

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