Gabon

Gabon's Wood Industry Production Continues to Contract

Gabon's wood industry continues to contract. According to the latest industry economic report released by Gabon's Ministry of Economy, Finance and Investment, the production activity index for the wood industry fell by 6% in the fourth quarter of 2025, due to an unfavorable international environment.

Although this performance decline is linked to the real estate crisis in China, the report also points out that competition from Brazilian pinewood has intensified this external pressure, as Brazilian pinewood is priced at half that of Okoumé. Consequently, a significant portion of demand has been captured by this competitor, while domestic supply is being squeezed.

The Economy Ministry's report shows that on an annual basis, the situation is even more worrying, with the production activity index falling by 23.7%. The report explains that this decline stems from a combination of structural and cyclical factors, namely weak global demand, increased competition from other tropical woods, and operational constraints related to unstable energy supply. Against this backdrop, these disruptions have affected production cycles, thereby reducing operators' ability to respond effectively to market demand.

Looking at specific subsectors, the production activity index for the sawmilling industry over the past twelve months fell by 28.3 percentage points.

In the fourth quarter, the veneer and plywood indices continued to decline. The veneer index fell by 11.6%, mainly due to insufficient log supply, weak demand, and power outages. The plywood index also fell by 3.4%, likewise affected by weak demand and power outages.

Gabon Launches Inventory Check for Precious Kevazingo 

On April 1, 2026, the Gabonese government launched a nationwide inventory of Kevazingo precious timber stocks.

By precisely counting every cubic meter of timber within the country – whether seized, abandoned, or legally held – the Gabonese government reaffirms its actual control over this "green gold."

Kevazingo timber is one of the most expensive woods in the world, highly prized on the international market for its rarity and quality, representing considerable economic wealth. The value of stocks accumulated over many years is estimated at tens of billions of CFA francs.

Through this operation, the authorities aim to strengthen industry regulation, combat illegal logging, ensure traceability of forest resources, while also providing timber to local industries for local processing of these precious woods and exporting high-value-added finished products.

Kevazingo logging in Gabon is only permitted in designated concession areas. Transport is also strictly controlled. Any transport requires authorization from the Minister of Water and Forests, and often the implantation of tracking chips.

Gabon's Ministry of Water and Forests Receives Equipment Donation

On April 22, the Gabonese Minister of Water and Forests chaired a meeting in Libreville on the CAFI 2 and CAFI 3 projects.

During the meeting, a batch of donated equipment was formally handed over to the ministry. The equipment includes all-terrain motorcycles and computer equipment, aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of front-line technical departments. The equipment, financed by the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) under the CAFI 2 and CAFI 3 projects, will help enhance the monitoring, control, and inspection work carried out by the General Directorate of Forestry. The minister emphasized that this equipment will directly contribute to combating illegal logging and promoting forest certification.

According to him, the government's three current priority areas of action are forest certification, forest law enforcement, and community forest management. The newly acquired equipment will provide concrete support for these projects.

Republic of the Congo

The Office of Congo’s Minister of Forest Economy Chairs Seminar

On April 2, Guy Saturnin TSETSA, Director of the Office of the Minister of Forest Economy of the Republic of Congo, chaired a seminar to evaluate a study on the current state of the domestic timber value chain.

The study was initiated by the "Private Sector Support Project for the Domestic Timber Market" (ASP MIB Congo), funded by the European Union Delegation to Congo, and implemented by the International Tropical Timber Technical Association.

According to Catherine Vivien of FRMI-Becaf Consulting Congo, the study explored the entire value chain from artisanal logging to final processing. The research was conducted mainly in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, Sibiti, and Ouesso, revealing the scale of the sector. Each year, approximately 150,000 cubic meters of sawn timber are supplied to the country's urban centers, equivalent to forest harvesting of over 250,000 cubic meters. This is a considerable volume, accounting for nearly 20% of the sector's output, yet it depends on numerous small-scale producers.

Catherine Vivien pointed out that this workforce is large but mostly lacks professional training and operates informally, posing significant challenges. The sector creates substantial employment opportunities but suffers from issues such as a fragmented industry structure, inadequate technical training, and limited access to financing. 

World Bank Allocates $394.83 Million for Development of Congo Basin Forest Economy

On March 31, the World Bank Group approved a new project aimed at transforming the forest economy in Central Africa. The project, named the "Sustainable Congo Basin Forest Economies Program" (SCBFEP), is funded by the International Development Association (IDA) with an initial phase of $394.83 million. The project will improve forest management, strengthen forest value chains, and create 220,000 jobs in the Republic of Congo, the Republic of Cameroon, and the Central African Republic.

According to reports, the Republic of the Congo has secured a US$120 million allocation, Cameroon will receive US$193.83 million, and the Central African Republic is set to obtain US$60 million. Regional bodies, including the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC), will each receive $4 million to support coordination and implementation efforts. 

Ghana

Ghana's National Timber Monitoring Team Visits Timber Industry Chain

The Director of Ghana's National Timber Monitoring Team conducted visits to domestic timber markets and companies to gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges and operational constraints facing the industry chain. He stated that these interactions are essential for the government to formulate appropriate interventions and create a more favorable environment for industry players.

During these visits, timber operators called on the government to provide standardized transport documents to facilitate the smooth movement of wood offcuts from production areas to various processing centers.

Offcuts are one of the most common timber materials on the market. These residues are often burned in forest areas or elsewhere for use as firewood or charcoal feedstock. However, operators believe that these offcuts can be reprocessed into various wood products, generating revenue for the government and promoting economic growth.

The head of the Ghana Sawnwood Sales Association indicated that although most of its members acquire offcuts legally, they face significant difficulties in obtaining the necessary documentation to transport the offcuts to processing centers or timber markets.

Ghana Needs Over 19 Billion Cedis to Restore Degraded Forests

The Board Chairman of the Ghana Forest Plantation Development Fund (FPDF) stated that Ghana needs over 19 billion Ghanaian cedis to restore its degraded forest lands.

It is estimated that 9,500 hectares of forest in Ghana have been destroyed due to various human activities, and the cost of restoring each hectare ranges between 1.5 million and 2 million Ghanaian cedis.

He emphasized that beyond tree planting, continuous maintenance remains the biggest challenge for successful forest restoration.

"Planting trees is easy. But without proper maintenance, protection, and water supply over many years, these efforts will be in vain," he said.