Trade sluggish in West Africa as European market quietens
The overall market situation has changed very little, with
trade sluggish and European buyers mostly out of the
market for the time being. There were very few small price
increases and a weakness for less favored timbers.
Sapele prices have not recovered and European buyers have said it has been very difficult to determine current prices for imports or for whatever landed stocks are still available. As reported mid-month, production in West Africa was low and there were no signs of major producers re-starting any shut down logging or processing activities.
Producers and exporters in the Asian region have been holding their prices steady and have not made any real price concessions. This has helped West African exporters reaffirm the position that cutting prices will not stimulate increased buying from importers who are concentrating on downsizing their activities to match the much reduced consumer demand.
Central/West Africa
Sapele prices have not recovered and European buyers have said it has been very difficult to determine current prices for imports or for whatever landed stocks are still available. As reported mid-month, production in West Africa was low and there were no signs of major producers re-starting any shut down logging or processing activities.
Producers and exporters in the Asian region have been holding their prices steady and have not made any real price concessions. This has helped West African exporters reaffirm the position that cutting prices will not stimulate increased buying from importers who are concentrating on downsizing their activities to match the much reduced consumer demand.
| West Africa logs, FOB | € per m³ | ||
| Asian market |
LM
|
B
|
BC/C
|
| Acajou/ Khaya/N'Gollon |
221
|
191
|
153 ⬆
|
| Ayous/Obéché/Wawa |
206
|
206
|
168
|
| Azobe & Ekki |
168
|
168
|
122
|
| Belli |
161 ⬇
|
161 ⬇
|
-
|
| Bibolo/Dibétou |
168
|
168
|
114
|
| Bubinga |
533
|
457
|
381
|
| Iroko |
289
|
274
|
259
|
| Okoume (60% CI, 40% CE, 20% CS) |
132
|
-
|
-
|
| Moabi |
259
|
259
|
206
|
| Movingui |
191
|
191
|
137
|
| Niove |
129
|
129
|
-
|
| Okan |
152 ⬇
|
152 ⬇
|
122 ⬇
|
| Padouk |
259
|
259
|
229
|
| Sapele |
236 ⬇
|
236 ⬇
|
180 ⬇
|
| Sipo/Utile |
300 ⬇
|
300 ⬇
|
228
|
| Tali |
152
|
152
|
114
|
| West Africa sawnwood, FOB |
€ per m³
|
|
| Ayous | FAS GMS |
335
|
| Fixed sizes | 396 |
|
| Okoumé | FAS GMS |
300
|
| Sel. & Bet. GMS Italy |
250
|
|
| Sel. & Bet. fixed sizes |
-
|
|
| Sipo | FAS GMS |
585
|
| FAS fixed sizes |
-
|
|
| FAS scantlings |
585
|
|
| Padouk | FAS GMS |
585
|
| FAS scantlings |
585
|
|
| Strips |
425
|
|
| Sapele | FAS Spanish sizes |
520
|
| FAS scantlings |
520
|
|
| Iroko | FAS GMS |
458
|
| Scantlings |
519
|
|
| Strips |
304
|
|
| Khaya | FAS GMS |
396
|
| FAS fixed |
427
|
|
| Maobi | FAS GMS |
580
|
| Scantlings |
580
|
|
| Movingui | FAS GMS |
420
|