Ghana Shipping Authority: Conflict leads to a sharp increase in shipping surcharges, and the shipping cost for wood exports soars.

In a recent notice to shippers, the Ghana Shippers' Authority (GSA) pointed out that the current conflict has seriously disrupted the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a key international waterway. This strait is a must-pass for the main shipping routes of most international shipping companies and carries a considerable proportion of global maritime trade. The disruption of shipping and its chain impact on the global supply chain are prompting many international shipping companies to adjust their ship route layouts.

Gabon's new move to tackle the chaos in the timber industry: Every log will be tracked by GPS throughout its journey.

Maurice Ntossui Allogo, the Minister of Water and Forests of Gabon, recently announced at a government briefing that Gabon is embarking on the construction of a national wood traceability data center, aiming to digitally track every log from its GPS marking in the forest to the export stage.

CITES is planning to strictly control several popular African timbers, and Sapele, Obeche, etc. may face trade restrictions!

CITES is planning to include several popular African timbers on its control list, which has drawn high attention from the industry. As the major importer, the Chinese market may face rising costs and supply shortages.

Major ports in Europe and Southeast Asia are experiencing severe congestion. Will Chinese ports face an unprecedented crisis of empty containers?

Due to the continuous escalation of the situation in the Middle East, the congestion at key ports in Southeast Asia is likely to trigger an empty container crisis at Chinese ports in the future. However, the timber transportation route from Europe to Australia remains unobstructed at present, but the fuel cost has slightly increased.

The situation in the Middle East is "blazing" the Suez Canal! The export of forest products to Asia is blocked, and who will pay for the soaring costs?

The situation in the Middle East has led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and disruptions in shipping through the Suez Canal, seriously affecting the export of forest products from Europe to Asia. Delays in delivery and rising costs are inevitable, especially for the trade of pulp, wood and other products.

The export of tropical logs from African countries to China has sharply declined! By 2025, it had dropped by 83.8%.

According to the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) of Ghana, the country's wood product exports totaled 1.66 million cubic meters, with a value of 763 million euros from 2020 to 2025. Among them, the export volume in 2025 hit a new low, reaching only 217,000 cubic meters, with a value of 98.38 million euros.

The new resolution proposes a ban on the export of logs and lumber.

It was reported that at the Nanaimo Regional District Council meeting on January 27, Nanaimo Mayor Paul Manly proposed a resolution for the upcoming Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities Association (AVICC) meeting, calling on local governments in British Columbia to urge the provincial government to "prohibit the export of logs and lumber from British Columbia to ensure that forests harvested on Crown land and privately managed forest land are processed within the province."

Ghana's timber industry expands southward, acquires pine wood in Santiago.

Ganahl Lumber, based in Anaheim, Orange County, has expanded southward and acquired Pine Tree Lumber, an independent operator, in San Diego. This move marks Ganahl Lumber's first foray into the San Diego area, extending its regional footprint to four core counties.

Cameroon has introduced a forestry incentive policy, with the maximum reduction ratio of forest concession fees reaching up to 35%.

According to the Cameroon Business Daily, in the 2026 fiscal bill, the Cameroonian government has launched a fiscal incentive measure aimed at curbing illegal and disorderly logging activities. According to the budget implementation notice issued by the Minister of Finance, starting from January 1, 2026, the government will reduce the annual forest concession fees (RFA) that logging operators need to pay by 25% to 35%.

Second only to China! Vietnam becomes the second largest buyer of timber from Cameroon, but most transactions are non compliant?

According to a report by Cameroon Business Daily, a report titled "Stolen Timber, Blaspheled Temples: The Negative Impact of Cameroon Vietnam Timber Trade on Cameroonian People and Forests" pointed out that with the rapid shift in trade flow, Vietnam has surpassed other countries to become the second largest market for Cameroonian timber in just a few years, second only to China.