Cameroon: No Expansion Planned Without Clear Improvement in Timber Demand

Reports indicate that Cameroon has now fully entered the expected phase, with domestic logging operations continuing to slow down. Access to some forest concession areas is hindered, and log transportation is increasingly affected. Overall, the industry remains cautious, particularly among processing plants with ample inventory and limited long-term orders, which have essentially no plans for production expansion.

Cameroon Timber Market: Rainy Season Constrains Supply, Divergent Demand and Tightening Regulations Test Industry

By August, Cameroon's main forestry regions have entered the rainy season, with persistent heavy rainfall disrupting the entire timber supply chain. Logging operations have been hindered, sawmills are operating at low capacity, overseas market demand remains uneven, and heightened CITES-related regulations have introduced multiple uncertainties into timber trade. The rainy season is expected to last until early December.

Vietnam's Wood Export Landscape Transforms: Wood Chips and Pellets Drive Growth, Furniture Exports Face Pressure

The global timber trade map is undergoing a new round of reshaping, with structural changes in Vietnam’s wood exports drawing significant industry attention. A recent market report released by the International Tropical Timber Organization revealed that in the first half of 2026, Vietnam’s wood exports showed a clear divergence—wood chips, pellet fuels, and industrial panels accounted for all export growth, pushing total exports to $8.54 billion, a modest 4.4% increase year-on-year. In contrast, deep-processed furniture products—the traditional backbone of the sector—saw their export value decline by 2.7%. As a result, Vietnam’s export engine is rapidly shifting from finished furniture toward upstream raw materials.

Ghana: Timber exports down 14% year-on-year, with most species experiencing varying degrees of reduction

According to data from the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) of Ghana's Forestry Commission, Ghana's wood products exports declined by 14% year-on-year in January–April 2026, reaching only 67,000 cubic meters; export revenue fell by 20% year-on-year during the same period, dropping to 29.34 million euros.

Central African log export ban approaching! Only 17 months left to build local processing plants

Sixty ministerial representatives from the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), along with development banks and regional operators, will meet in Yaoundé on July 29–30 to plan supporting industrial infrastructure for the log export ban, which has been postponed twice.

Cameroon's ban on raw timber exports still faces implementation challenges

According to data from the Cameroon National Institute of Statistics (INS), the country's sawn timber exports reached 762,000 tons in 2025, generating export revenue of 157.6 billion CFA francs. Notably, although sawn timber still accounts for the majority of wood exports, both export volume and revenue have declined compared to the same period from 2021 to 2024.

Gabon's deep-sea port construction project has been launched, expected to boost export efficiency for timber and other bulk commodities upon completion.

According to the Gabonese presidential palace, substantial construction work on the deep-sea port of Kobe-Kobe in the southeastern province of Moyenne-Ogooué has officially commenced this month.

EU deforestation regulation countdown: Vietnam races to build forest database by year's end

According to Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam plans to complete the development of a provincial forest boundary database and electronic mapping system by the end of this year. This initiative is seen as a key step in helping the country's timber industry adapt to the European Union's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and maintain competitiveness in exports to Europe.

Ghanaian timber traders urge government to address transport bottlenecks

Recently, Edem Koko Edem, a representative of Ghanaian timber traders, told Angel FM radio that timber traders across the country still face numerous challenges in transporting their products to markets, calling on authorities to take urgent action. Edem directly appealed to Office Director Debrah, urging her to swiftly coordinate and resolve the pressing issues in transportation and regulatory processes.

Brazil and Cameroon's timber trade scandal exposed, with over $400 million "evaporating" annually!

According to the latest report, "The Financial Secrets of Forests," released by the Financial Transparency Coalition, billions of dollars linked to illegal deforestation are flowing through global supply chains. Due to opaque land and corporate ownership records, commodities such as timber, soybeans, and beef evade regulation and enter international markets.