The EU27 imported 848,000 cubic metres of tropical sawnwood in 2023, 16% less than the previous year. Import value of this commodity was US$782 million in 2023, 14% less than in 2022.
Imports declined from nearly all leading supply countries including Cameroon (-9% to 328,600 cubic metres), Gabon (-22% to 128,800 cubic metres), Brazil (-41% to 98,300 cubic metres), Malaysia (-20% to 68,700 cubic metres), Ghana (-32% to 20,500 cubic metres), Côte d’Ivoire (-27% to 14,100 cubic metres), DRC (-12% to 13,200 cubic metres), and Ecuador (-27% to 10,000 cubic metres).
The only significant increases in tropical sawnwood imports were from the Republic of Congo (+23% to 93,300 cubic metres) and CAR (+85% to 12,600 cubic metres). The increase in sawnwood imports from the Republic of Congo last year coincides with introduction of a ban on log exports from the country on 1st January 2023.
The EU27 imported 134,900 tonnes of tropical mouldings/decking in 2023, 22% less than in the previous year. Import value of tropical mouldings/decking was down 35% to US$258 million in 2023.
Imports fell sharply from all the leading supply countries including Brazil (-27% to 48,200 tonnes), Indonesia (-22% to 40,900 tonnes), Gabon (-28% to 10,500 tonnes), Peru (- 15% to 10,400 tonnes), Malaysia (-16% to 6,300 tonnes), and Bolivia (-29% to 5,600 tonnes).
Source: Globalwood.org