BY
Dr. Ibrahim Favada, Jayne M. Buadu & Razak Issah
OUTLINE
 Intra-African timber trade initiative
 Project rationale
 Challenges in intra-African timber trade
 Solutions
 Africa’s first online timber marketplace
(‘Africantimber.net’)
 Overview of ‘Africantimber.net’
Intra-African trade in Timbers and
Timber Products(TTPs) has generally
been limited.
In 2007 only 10% of the region’s
TTPs imports originated from the
region itself, indicating major
opportunities for expansion.
THREE CORE CHALLENGES IN TIMBER TRADE IN
AFRICA

Weak information systems on the markets and the
forest sector in producing countries.

Gaps in the existing market intelligence.

Limitations in accessing markets and in market
competitiveness of TTPs due to constraints such as
changes in market requirements, specific measures
taken by regulators and activists to eliminate or
reduce the use of tropical timber in general.
WEAK INFORMATION SYSTEMS
General situations in ITTO member countries are that:
 Some have no functional information systems or which are
in initial phases of their development
 Others have recognised the importance of marketing
information, developed institutional models, but which still
have significant needs to strengthen and coordinate their
information systems
 Some have relatively well-established national system, but
still have gaps and other needs of improvement
GAPS IN THE MARKET INTELLIGENCE
 Lack of information on domestic, informal sector and legal/illegal
production.
 Unreliable projection of demand and supply makes planning at
enterprise and national level difficult
 End uses and market characteristic of individual species, including
LUS and plantation species, are poorly known.
 There is inadequate information on factors driving change in tropical
timber consumer markets and how to proactively respond to these.
 Specific information on markets for Secondary processed wood
products(SPWPs) is inadequate but necessary to guide investments in
adding value.
LIMITATIONS IN ACCESSING MARKETS
 Tariffs
 Standards and technical regulations
 Other non-tariff trade barriers
A PROPOSED MEASURE TO ADDRESS THESE
CHALLENGES IS THROUGH THE INTRA- AFRICAN
TIMBER TRADE INITIATIVE
Improving intra-African trade and market transparency
in TTPs by:
 Increasing knowledge of regional market.
 Improving production capacity and marketing
planning.
 Improving market access and logistics
HOW THE ONLINE TIMBER MARKETPLACE
(AFRICANTIMBER.NET) ADDRESSES SOME OF THE
TRADE CHALLENGES
The online timber marketplace will:
 catalogue timber companies,
 trade leads
 Provide social media tool to facilitate liaison among
African traders.
 At the marketplace, regular surveys will be conducted
with traders, market intelligence gleaned, prepared and
reported on the website for various users.
OVERVIEW OF ‘AFRICANTIMBER.NET’
THE LANDING PAGE
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POSSIBLE CHALLENGES
 The lack of interest in online marketing
shown by companies.
 Some companies are not willing to
subscribe for a fee.
 Poor internet services
 High computer illiteracy
THANK YOU