Veneer And Plywood Driving Growth In Gabon's Timber Industry

Compared to 2020, China's wood processing production increased sharply in 2021; this growth was driven by the veneer and plywood sectors, which grew by 54% and 151.2%, respectively, during the period.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, activity in the timber industry slowed slightly compared to the third quarter, according to an industry report from the Ministry of Economy. In the first six months, however, the figure was still well above average. As a result, wood processing production in Gabon in 2021 increased significantly compared to 2020. Among them, total sawn timber production jumped 34.5% to 1.57 million cubic meters. This is related to an increase in new installations, increased production efficiency and improved supply of logs to the mill, especially in the Nko region of Gabon.

In 2021, wood production at industrial installations in the Nko region of Gabon increased by 44.8% to 723,000 cubic meters. These installations now account for 50% of national production, up from 40% in 2020.

The document also noted that production growth in the Enko region came from veneer (up around 54%) and plywood (up around 151.2%), while sawing progress was more modest (up around 18.8%). "These developments reflect the region's mission to promote the development of second and third wood processing," the Ministry of Economy explained.

On the trade front, exports in the fourth quarter were up from previous quarters due to increased demand and the easing of restrictions in many regions. Exports in 2021 will increase year-on-year to 1.098 million cubic meters, an increase of 34.4%. "This increase is linked to strong growth in external orders for timber from Asia and the European Union (EU)," the note noted.