It is becoming increasingly difficult to get trade news from West Africa. Communication channels have not been affected by pandemic control measures and many logging and milling operations are continuing, the main issue seems to be that correspondents are so distracted trying to survive financially and pay wages that their time horizon has become very short, market developments seem a distant dream at present.
EU buyer interest wanes as their stocks rise
As could be expected there have been few price movements with importers and shippers sticking to previously negotiated prices.
West African producers report some adjustments have been made in prices for the EU market, for example prices for ayous for the Italian market have started to ease and buyers in France have stepped back from orders for moabi and douka as their stocks are higher than usual and the summer vacation season is fast approaching.
Shippers say the only moderately active market is China where demand for okoume sawnwood is holding up. Also there has been some interest in ovangkol which, say importers, is an alternative,, although quite different, for kevazingo in the Chinese home market.
It is reported that exporters in Equatorial Guinea are shipping bubinga with CITES certificates to China but prices are falling.
Kevazingo issues to be discussed to provide some clarity on a complex issue
Trade sources in Gabon report that there are some 10,000 cubic metres of kevazingo logs and sawnwood waiting for milling and further transformation. Producers say the kevazingo trade issue is becoming more and more difficult to understand.
To address this it appears the Minister will meet with the trade so they can hear directly from him what the current thinking is. Recently the Minister approved a large shipment (said to be 24,000 cubic metres) of sawn okoume, ovangkol, padouk and okan to China.
Producers in Gabon face new challenges to get export documents cleared by the Ministry as they must submit to temperature scans and provide contact address and telephone numbers. Also, when visiting the ministry, everyone must now make an appointment so crowding can be avoided.
Log Export Prices
| West Africa logs, FOB | € per m³ | ||
| Asian market |
LM
|
B
|
BC/C
|
| Acajou/ Khaya/N’Gollon |
265
|
265
|
175 |
| Ayous/Obéché/Wawa |
250
|
250
|
225
|
| Azobe & Ekki |
275
|
275
|
175
|
| Belli |
270
|
270
|
–
|
| Bibolo/Dibétou |
215
|
215
|
|
| Bilinga |
275
|
275
|
– |
| Iroko | 300 |
280
|
225
|
| Okoume (60% CI, 40% CE, 20% CS) (China only) | 220 | 220 | 200 |
| Moabi | 365 | 365 | 285 |
| Movingui | 210 |
210
|
–
|
| Niove |
160
|
160
|
–
|
| Okan |
200
|
200 |
–
|
| Padouk |
250
|
230 |
200
|
| Sapele | 260 | 260 | 200 |
| Sipo/Utile |
260
|
260 |
230
|
| Tali | 300 | 300 |
–
|
Sawnwood Export Prices
| West Africa sawnwood, FOB |
€ per m³
|
|
| Ayous | FAS GMS | 440 |
| Bilinga | FAS GMS | 540 |
| Okoumé | FAS GMS |
460
|
| Merchantable | 310 | |
| Std/Btr GMS | 340 | |
| Sipo | FAS GMS |
500
|
| FAS fixed sizes | – | |
| FAS scantlings | 520 | |
| Padouk | FAS GMS | 640 |
| FAS scantlings | 675 | |
| Strips | 320 | |
| Sapele | FAS Spanish sizes | 450 |
| FAS scantlings | 480 | |
| Iroko | FAS GMS | 600 |
| Scantlings | 660 | |
| Strips |
350
|
|
| Khaya | FAS GMS |
480
|
| FAS fixed |
540
|
|
| Maobi | FAS GMS |
620
|
| Scantlings |
640
|
|
| Movingui | FAS GMS |
420
|
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