Market research

Wood pellets market in Eastern Africa

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Eastern Africa" region includes following countries:

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, wood pellet production in Eastern Africa remained constant at 29 000 t annually. Over the same period, the total market volume experienced a gentle contraction, edging down from 29 577 t to 29 033 t, with minor year-to-year fluctuations.

International trade flows shifted notably: imports fell from 578 t in 2018 to a low of 134 t in 2021 before partially recovering, while exports surged from just 1 t to 372 t by 2023, indicating a stronger outward market orientation. By 2024, both import and export volumes had decreased to 126 t and 106 t, respectively. The market context is shaped by abundant local sawdust and wood waste feedstock, rising industrial demand for renewable energy, and the entry of new production facilities, such as those in Uganda focusing on biomass pellets from agricultural waste.

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 Eastern Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2018-2023, t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, 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, 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. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 pellets in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of wood pellets, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of wood pellets, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Eastern Africa produced 29 000 tonnes of wood pellets, maintaining the same level as the previous year. Compared to 2019, production remained unchanged. From 2017 to 2020, production grew by 26.1%, which translates to an annualized rate of 8.0%. The highest production was recorded in 2018 at 29 000 tonnes. In 2019, production saw no change, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 26.1% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	26.1%	-	-	8.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wood pellets from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Between the minimum in 2017 and the maximum in 2019, there was a significant variation. In 2020, wood pellets exports from Eastern Africa totaled 25.6 tonnes, marking a 47.7% decrease compared to the previous year. The peak was in 2019 at 49.0 tonnes, with the largest increase that year reaching 4 809.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	4 809.6%	(47.7%)	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Spain consistently led in the structure of exports in kind, together accounting for 1.8% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Exports varied significantly, with a 66-fold difference between the trough in 2017 and the peak in 2019. In 2020, Eastern Africa's wood pellets export volume reached 5.0 thousand US dollars, a 65.3% drop from the previous year. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 14.5 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase that year at 5 818.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.1%	5 818.4%	(65.3%)	183.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Spain formed the main group of markets for exports in value terms, together representing 24.1% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports wood pellets to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, t

Eastern Africa's wood pellets import volume declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region imported 261.8 tonnes of wood pellets, a sharp drop of 33.8% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 61.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of -27.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(14.3%)	(31.5%)	(33.8%)	(27.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa (59.7% of imports in kind), Sudan (14.0% of imports in kind), and Indonesia (12.5% of imports in kind) together absorbed 86.2% of total wood pellets imports in kind to Eastern Africa, making them the primary sources.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. There was a 4.3-fold variation between the minimum in 2019 and the maximum in 2018. In 2020, wood pellets shipments to Eastern Africa from abroad stood at 39.0 thousand US dollars, a 19.1% increase from the previous year. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 32.7 thousand US dollars, while the highest was in 2018 at 141.6 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 76.9% drop, and the largest increase was in 2018 with a 49.0% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	49.0%	(76.9%)	19.1%	(25.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

In 2017–2020, South Africa (34.2% of imports in value terms), Indonesia (27.3% of imports in value terms), and India (17.0% of imports in value terms) were the main destinations in the geographical breakdown of imports in value terms for wood pellets to Eastern Africa, with a combined share of 78.5% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io