Central/West Africa: Prices slide as European demand lags

Certain log prices fell as markets experienced some significant changes in demand. Buyers from China have become much more selective and concentrated on purchases of separate grades of okoume in place of previous emphasis on mixed, lower grades. Redwoods were also moving sluggishly, as a result of changed buying patterns in the past few weeks. Some producers were reducing output and waiting to see how the market developed. Log buying for Europe also turned quieter with only France being relatively active.

Sawn lumber markets were reporting much slower business, with some countries that had high stocks of previously favored species showing quite large price falls for the second time in recent weeks. Douka/makore was down again for GMS and scantlings. Moabi was also retreating, ending its long run of price rises. Sapele FAS declined by EUR60 on lower demand from Spain and the UK. UK importers were particularly hit by poor demand from the building and carpentry sectors and have reportedly been selling well below replacement cost at the present time.

West African exporters are preparing for a more volatile market situation over the rest of the second quarter and reducing output where necessary to match the fall in demand.

*West Africa logs, FOB*	*€ per m3*
Asian market	LM	B	BC/C
Acajou/ Khaya/N'Gollon	221	191	175
Ayous/Obéché/Wawa	206↓	205	168
Azobe & Ekki	168	168	122
Belli	198	198	-
Bibolo/Dibétou	168	168	114
Bubinga	533	457	381
Iroko	289	274	259
Okoume (60% CI, 40% CE, 20% CS)	175	150	-
Moabi	320↓	305↓	282
Movingui	205	190	152
Niove	129	129	-
Okan	221↓	221↓	198
Padouk	289	289	267
Sapele	297	297	282
Sipo/Utile	335	305	267
Tali	190	190	152
Gabon Okoumé logs, FAS*	€ per m3
Grade	Asia	Europe
QS	213	219
CI	171	171
CE	146	150
CS	108	111

*Based on SNBG official prices

West Africa sawnwood, FOB		€ per m3
Ayous	FAS GMS	396
Ayous	Fixed sizes	-
Okoumé	FAS GMS	325
	Sel. & Bet. GMS Italy	275↓
	Sel. & Bet. fixed sizes	-
Sipo	FAS GMS	630
	FAS fixed sizes	-
	FAS scantlings	580↓
Padouk	FAS GMS	600
	FAS scantlings	630
	Strips	425
Sapele	FAS Spanish sizes	560↓
Sapele	FAS scantlings	635
Iroko	FAS GMS	458
	Scantlings	519
	Strips	304
Khaya	FAS GMS	396
Khaya	FAS fixed	427
Maobi	FAS GMS	600↓
Maobi	Scantlings	610↓
Movingui	FAS GMS	420↓

Central/West Africa: Prices slide as European demand lags

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