The forest cover in Africa, expanded on approximately 650 million hectares, represent 16.8% of the “global forest” and 21.8% of Africa’s surface.
The main exporters of wood products from Central and Western Africa are France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Recently, Portugal was added to this list.
Currently, China imports larger quantities than these countries, especially logs necessary for producing plywood and veneer.
Globally, Japan and China are the major importers for tropical wood – China importing logs, Japan – already processed wood.
Together, these two countries sum up almost 40% of the world’s tropical wood trade.
Recently, producers and importers of the timber industry had to adjust to a market change, caused especially the decrease in wood availability due to over exploitation. The market was also influenced by the demand from the consumers and by the increasing role of civil society.
Some reports suggest that the timber industry has an upward evolution that might burst and continue over a larger period of time. This constant and stabile evolution is determined by the prices of timber and veneer that remains unchanged, despite the massive demands from China, Japan and India
The economic and demographic growths are factors that maintain a constant demand, and become decisive in the market’s evolution.
The power of trade
Commerce has a key role a sustainable forest management.
The interest of European countries in regard to conservation helped the raise in demand for wooden products and increased pressure on suppliers – especially those from the tropical regions. They are now obligated to show proof of a sustainable and legal source of exploitation.
To make possible the “restraint” of a market sector, the African wood suppliers will have to show their support for international legal checking and for forestry certificates.
Even though the African countries supply only a small part of UE’s wood imports, the trade between Africa and Europe has a major importance both because of their volume and their value. Thus, Europe becomes a market for African products.
The development of this international trade is supported by public and private sectors which supply the specific legislation for the forestry domain, by groups of producers and consumers, along side the international initiatives which are now focused on African producers.
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