Central/West Africa: Just a few popular timbers dominating the trade

Fuente:
ITTO
Vistas:
3952
  • text size

While West and Central African exporters report good order book positions, demand levels are flat providing no opportunity for price increases. Analysts say there is little chance of a significant change in the second quarter as European demand has not picked up to any notable extent in spite of a generally mild winter which allowed construction companies to continue working.

Business with buyers for the Chinese market is reported as brisk and there is strong demand for okoume logs and other species suitable for peeling. Demand for ayous in Italy stands out as one success and producers say orders have expanded and that prices are favourable. The indications are that pale coloured temperate hardwoods are the current favourites of architects and the general consumer in Europe.

Producers note with concern the market penetration of non-wood substitutes for enduses once the domain of tropical timber. One obvious weakness in the tropical timber sector is the lack of any cohesive, cooperative, joint market promotion by tropical timber exporting countries.

The reality is that just a handful of popular species dominate the trade as their properties and processing characteristics are well understood. While there is a huge volume of technical information available on hundreds of tropical timbers this is scattered throughout many different and uncoordinated publications and not in a format suitable for promotion.

Exporters test Mid East market with mixed red species

Keen competition continues for market share in the Middle East where demand is high. Okoume sales are reported as very good, although there is strong competition from meranti. Some markets, such as Oman, appear to prefer meranti over African species because of the lower cost.

Some West and Central African exporters are now shipping larger volumes of mixed red species which are more directly price competitive with the lower priced meranti. Most Middle East importers deal in large volumes of mainly European softwoods as well as tropical hardwoods so the entire market is very price conscious.

Côte d’Ivoire prepares for second round of VPA negotiations

The most recent FLEGT newsletter reports that “Côte d‟Ivoire has begun preparations for the second round of VPA negotiations with the EU after a technical session held in Abidjan. Thirteen Ivorian members of the technical negotiation committee attended representing government, industry associations, civil society organisations and traditional chiefdoms.

During the technical session, participants developed an initial list of the timber and timber products that the VPA is to cover. They also discussed a process to decide whether the VPA would cover timber sold on the domestic market as well as timber intended for export.

The group made progress in reviewing draft principles, criteria and indicators for the legality definition. The second VPA negotiation session is planned to take place in Brussels in May or June this year.

Log Export Prices

West Africa logs, FOB € per m³
Asian market
LM
B
BC/C
Acajou/ Khaya/N'Gollon
220
220
155
Ayous/Obéché/Wawa
225
210
150
Azobe & Ekki
235
230
150
Belli
230
230
-
Bibolo/Dibétou
150
145
 
Iroko 250
225
210
Okoume (60% CI, 40% CE, 20% CS) (China only) 335 330 250
Moabi 280 270 -
Movingui 215
215
175
Niove
165
165
-
Okan
250
250
-
Padouk
310
280
210
Sapele
280
270
180
Sipo/Utile
310
285
190
Tali 300 300
-

                                                                                                                                         Sawnwood Export Prices

West Africa sawnwood, FOB
€ per m³
Ayous FAS GMS 340
Bilinga FAS GMS 520
Okoumé FAS GMS
480
FAS. fixed sizes 255
Std/Btr GMS
350
Sipo FAS GMS
550
FAS fixed sizes -
FAS scantlings 550
Padouk FAS GMS 790
FAS scantlings 790
Strips 400
Sapele FAS Spanish sizes 535
FAS scantlings
555
Iroko FAS GMS 565
Scantlings 590
Strips
440
Khaya FAS GMS
450
FAS fixed
470
Maobi FAS GMS
550
Scantlings
550
Movingui FAS GMS
410
Publica comentario