Wood in the rough market in Northern Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The physical market volume for wood in the rough in Northern Africa demonstrated remarkable stability from 2018 to 2022, maintaining an annual level near 36 000 K t. This period began with broader regional shifts, including the adoption of FSC forest certification by Central African operators to access premium Western markets and mounting pressure on primary forest resources, which encouraged a move toward more sustainable forestry management without immediately disrupting output. Production edged higher in 2022, supported by these structural trends.

The market dynamics shifted in 2023 as production volume fell to 35 949 K t, contributing to a slight dip in total market size. This contraction coincided with a significant reported decrease in global imports of tropical wood from Africa, reflecting weaker external demand for African timber. Meanwhile, the market's value experienced substantial swings, influenced by supply-side factors. The ban on exports of unprocessed wood within the CEMAC economic bloc from January 2022 tightened regional supply and contributed to rising production prices in adjacent markets. Further cost pressures emerged from global logistics, including a major drop in Suez Canal traffic due to Red Sea attacks, which increased freight rates for shipping routes.

Import activity into Northern Africa surged to 470 K t in 2024, signaling renewed trade flows amid a complex global environment. This occurred alongside continued regulatory developments affecting the wood trade, such as amendments to the US Shipping Act and the implementation of Phase 7 of the Lacey Act for exporters, which introduced new due diligence requirements. These cross-border factors reshaped supply chains and cost structures, while the region's core production capacity for wood in the rough remained a stable fixture.

Production wood in the rough in Northern Africa

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

Northern Africa's wood in the rough production saw a decline after two years of growth. In 2020, production reached 36 145 thousand tonnes, showing little change from 2019. The peak was recorded in 2019 at 36 211 thousand tonnes, while the largest annual increase occurred in 2018 at 0.3%.

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

Exports wood in the rough from Northern Africa

Exports in kind, K t

The data shows irregular fluctuations, reflecting a volatile market environment. Exports bottomed out in 2018 at 0.1 thousand tonnes and peaked in 2017, with a 14.9-fold difference between these years. In 2020, exports totaled 0.7 thousand tonnes, marking a sharp year-on-year increase of 25.5%. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 93.3%, while the biggest increase occurred in 2019 at 570.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the primary buyers of wood in the rough from Northern Africa were Saudi Arabia (28.0% of exports in kind), India (25.8%), and Mauritania (21.7%). Together, these three countries accounted for 75.5% of total exports in kind.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Exports hit their lowest point in 2018 at 60 thousand US dollars and peaked in 2019 at 391 thousand US dollars, with a 6.5-fold gap between these years. In 2020, exports amounted to 329 thousand US dollars, representing a significant reduction of 15.7% compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 80.7%, while the biggest increase occurred in 2019 at 555.0%.

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

Throughout the 2017–2020 period, India (31.0% of exports in value terms), Mauritania (25.1%), and China (12.9%) formed the core of exports, together accounting for 69.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports wood in the rough to Northern Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Northern Africa's wood in the rough imports declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, import volume totaled 178.7 thousand tonnes, down 21.2% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 65.5%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 29.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Finland (45.0% of imports in kind), France (19.9%), and Belgium (12.4%) were the principal sources for imports, jointly accounting for 77.2% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Northern Africa's imported wood in the rough volumes declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports amounted to approximately 53 160 thousand US dollars, down 17.7% from the prior year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 25.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -9.3%. The peak was recorded in 2018 at 77 138 thousand US dollars, while the largest annual increase occurred in 2018 at 8.3%.

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

In the 2017–2020 period, Finland (55.8% of imports in value terms), Belgium (11.4%), and France (9.5%) accounted for the largest share of imports, together comprising 76.8% of total flows.

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

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