West African producers report that demand levels remain only moderate with buyers concentrating on the most popular species. Sapele is back in demand and this has encouraged a rise in production but millers are careful to balance production with demand so as not to over produce and risk weakening prices.
Other species for which demand is holding up are dibetou, belli and doussie. Buyers for the Chinese market are prepared to pay the asking prices for these species but have become very tough on specifications.
Okoume remains out of favour with buyers for the Chinese market. Buyers say that okoume stocks in China are still high so they do not expect to resume any substantial new purchases of okoume logs or sawnwood for several months.
Red species are in demand for Middle East markets but buyers have been negotiating hard on prices as there is strong competition in these markets from Malaysian timbers.
Log Export Prices
West Africa logs, FOB | € per m³ | ||
Asian market |
LM
|
B
|
BC/C
|
Acajou/ Khaya/N'Gollon |
230
|
230
|
160 |
Ayous/Obéché/Wawa |
260
|
260
|
180
|
Azobe & Ekki |
230
|
230
|
160
|
Belli |
330
|
330
|
-
|
Bibolo/Dibétou |
150
|
145
|
|
Iroko | 330 |
290
|
260
|
Okoume (60% CI, 40% CE, 20% CS) (China only) | 240 |
240 |
160 |
Moabi | 335 | 305 | 225 |
Movingui | 210 |
210
|
160
|
Niove |
160
|
160
|
-
|
Okan |
250
|
250 |
-
|
Padouk |
300
|
275 |
210
|
Sapele | 360 | 360 | 270 |
Sipo/Utile |
380
|
380 |
255
|
Tali | 320 | 320 |
-
|
Sawnwood Export Prices
West Africa sawnwood, FOB |
€ per m³
|
|
Ayous | FAS GMS | 400 |
Bilinga | FAS GMS | 500 |
Okoumé | FAS GMS |
400
|
Merchantable | 225 |
|
Std/Btr GMS | 300 |
|
Sipo | FAS GMS |
610
|
FAS fixed sizes | 610 |
|
FAS scantlings | 660 | |
Padouk | FAS GMS | 880▲ |
FAS scantlings | 940▲ | |
Strips | 500 | |
Sapele | FAS Spanish sizes | 600 |
FAS scantlings | 600 |
|
Iroko | FAS GMS | 610 |
Scantlings | 660▲ |
|
Strips |
440
|
|
Khaya | FAS GMS |
450
|
FAS fixed |
470
|
|
Maobi | FAS GMS |
610
|
Scantlings |
615
|
|
Movingui | FAS GMS |
420
|