The current situation of the three major timber-producing countries in Africa (such as Cameroon)

In Cameroon,

a systemic crisis in the industrial chain has emerged.

Persistent heavy rain has hindered the maintenance of key roads such as Sangmelima, causing delays of up to 48 hours in the transportation of red soil roads. This has directly led to a backlog of 75% of the wood loading tasks at the Douala Port. The shortage of logs has forced three major sawmills to relocate and switch production, with the industry's capacity utilization rate dropping to a historical low. Although the railway system remains operational, political uncertainties caused by the October general election have led 88% of operators to suspend capital investment. Notably, the demand from the Chinese market has continued to shrink. In the first quarter of 2025, the import volume dropped by 33% year-on-year, and orders for rosewood decreased by 40%, forcing some enterprises to seek breakthroughs in the Middle East market. 

In Gabon

Transport bottlenecks exacerbate cost crisis 

The red soil road from Okoundja to Makokou has been completely paralyzed due to heavy rainfall, causing the price of top-quality Ogouman logs to soar to 80,000 CFA francs per cubic meter, with transportation costs accounting for as much as 28.5%.

Despite the Indian market maintaining a basic demand, China's imports of Ogouman sawn timber have dropped sharply by 33.2%, leading to the continuous single-shift operation of the Nkoukou factory.

The shortage of fuel and the increase in SETRAG railway freight rates have had a cumulative effect, extending the wood turnover cycle at Libreville Port to over 72 hours. 

In the Republic of the Congo

Structural contradictions have become prominent

Producers report that market activities have been relatively quiet. The rainy season in the north and the dry season in the south have created a capacity scissors gap. However, due to a 71.8% decline in Chinese orders, the overall operating rate is less than 30% of the designed capacity. 

The sluggishness in China's construction industry has led to a sharp drop in the demand for formwork wood. According to customs data, in May 2025, China's imports of Congolese wood plummeted to 11,000 cubic meters, a year-on-year decrease of 71.8%, making it the month with the lowest import volume in the first five months of this year. 

In the European market, the share of African hardwoods has been squeezed due to intensified competition from local European wood. At the same time, the dual restrictions of CITES regulations and the EU Timber Regulation (EUDR) have posed institutional obstacles to industrial transformation. 

This article is excerpted from WoodNet, WoodNet News.