Report say some six Tree Species Account for 70% of Cameroon’s Timber Production
Cameroon’s logging industry remains concentrated on a very small number of tree species, despite the country’s extensive forest resources. According to a midterm evaluation report of the SND30 – National Development Strategy 2020-2030 published by the Ministry of Economy, only about 60 of the 300 species identified in the country are currently being exploited.
Of this already limited number of species, six account for 70% of national timber production, the report reveals. These are Ayous, Sapelli, Tali, Azobé, Okam and Fraké. According to the Competitiveness Committee, a think tank of the Ministry of Economy, Sapelli lumber from Cameroon is particularly prominent on the global market, where the country is the leading supplier.
The figures disclosed by the Ministry of Economy reflect very limited diversification of forest products. They particularly highlight untapped potential in a sector that ranks among Cameroon’s 10 main sources of export revenue.
As an illustration, according to the national accounts report published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), exports of products from “forestry and logging” – meaning timber and its derivatives – generated revenue totaling 140.4 billion CFA francs in Cameroon during 2024, up nearly 4 billion CFA francs year-on-year. According to the same source, this represents the second-largest volume of revenue the country has earned from these products since 2019, after the 147.6 billion CFA francs captured in 2021.