Republic of Congo
Last updated: 07 March 2020
Profile
Profile
Forestry and legality
| Source | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Sub-Saharan Africa | (2019) | UNSD | |
| FLEGT status | VPA implementing | (2019) | FLEGT Facility | |
| Forest area | 22.3 | million ha | (2015) | FAO |
| Deforestation rate | 0.02 | million ha/year | (2010-2015) | FAO |
| Planted area | 0.071 | million ha | (2015) | FAO |
| Tree cover loss | 712 | kha | (2001-2018) | Global Forest Watch |
| Tree cover loss (%) | 2.7 | % | (2001-2018) | Global Forest Watch |
| Tree cover gain | 46.7 | kha | (2001-2012) | Global Forest Watch |
| FSC certified area | 1,251,050 | ha | (December 2019) | FSC |
| PEFC certified area | 0 | ha | (December 2019) | PEFC |
| Double certified area (FSC & PEFC) | 0 | ha | (Mid-2019) | FSC & PEFC |
VPA status of Congo
The Republic of Congo (RoC) has made significant steps towards completing implementation of the VPA in the last few years.
By 2018, 29 forest concessions out of 60, comprising 10.4 million ha, or 68% of forest allocated to commercial use, had implemented or were developing sustainable management plans as a part of VPA implementation.
In 2018, the EU and RoC released a 2018-22 implementation strategy, including VPA communication plans, and renewed focus by the Ministry of Forest Economy on ‘optimising forest revenue collection’ as part of reforms.
Stakeholder engagement was strengthened by the country’s Sustainable Forest Management Platform and a new Congo VPA Facebook page.
A meeting of the VPA Joint Implementing Committee (JIC) in November 2018 included a presentation on the status of the VPA’s legality verification framework. Of 29 indicators for monitoring implementation of the system, six are in progress, with work on the others at an early stage or not started. The FLEGT VPA unit urged allocation of more funds to the process.
The JIC November 2018 meeting also included reports on forest code revision and the computerised legality and traceability verification system, which was ready for deployment.
Ongoing problems with legality verification system (SVL) compliance due to regulatory capacity issues were reported in November 2018 by the Independent Auditor (contract managed by the French auditing company SOFRECO). Also highlighted was that many forest operations still lacked management plans. A new call to tender for the next independent audit contract will be published in 2019.
The JIC November 2018 meeting underlined that there is continuing support for the VPA process from government ministries, with representatives highlighting potential outcomes, including tax gains and EU market development for further processed wood products.
Forest resources in Congo
Total forest area was 22.3 million hectares in 2015 according to FAO. ITTO’s 2010 Status of Tropical Forest Management report put the extent of dense humid forests at 18.5 million hectares with an additional 8.4 million hectares of forest-cropland mosaic, forest-savanna mosaic and semi-deciduous miombo forests. There are also an estimated 1,670 hectares of mangroves.
According to FAO, forest area declined by 77,000 hectares (0.3%) between 2010 and 2015. The main causes of deforestation are slash and burn practices, fuelwood production, illegal logging, and urban development.
These causes, together with underlying factors like population growth, poverty, lack of alternative sources of energy, and the lack of common vision on land-use planning among stakeholders, continue to damage the forest resources.
According to ITTO, the smaller area of southern forests (about 4.4 million hectares) are rich in Aucoumea klaineana (okoumé)‚ Terminalia superba (limba), Pycnanthus angolensis (ilomba) and Entandrophragma utile (sipo). However, after more than 100 years of harvesting, these forests are very degraded and are now utilised primarily by smaller national operators.
The northern forests (16.5 million hectares) contain redwoods, especially sipo, Entandrophragma cylindricum (sapelli) and Millettia laurentii (wengé), as well as light hardwoods (e.g. Triplochiton scleroxylon – ayous).
Northern forests are less degraded and are allocated into larger industrial concessions, each averaging approximately 400,000 hectares that have already implemented or are preparing forest management plans.
Industry
Industry
Economic and industrial status
| Source | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP | 11.3 | billion USD | (2018) | World Bank |
| Population | 5.2 | million | (2018) | World Bank |
| Income group | Lower middle income | (2019) | World Bank | |
| Ease of Doing Business (EDB) Rank | 180 | / 190 | (2019) | World Bank |
| Global Competitiveness Index Rank | unavailable | / 141 | (2019) | World Economic Forum |
| Liner Shipping Connectivity Index | 25.6 | (maximum value in 2004 = 100) | (2019) | World Bank |
Timber industry competitiveness of Congo
The wood processing sector is comprised of large-scale forest enterprises linked to international markets. These companies operate alongside small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that provide the semi-finished or finished products for the local market.
Low levels of national competitiveness have contributed to only limited investment in wood processing capacity in the country and heavy reliance on exports of primary wood products.
The country is either not rated at all or ranked very low on international competitiveness indices. In 2019, RoC was ranked 180th out of 190 countries on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index.
Trade Overview
Trade Overview
Highlights
According to the ITTO Biennial Review, national log production was relatively stable at around 2.2 million m3 between 2014 and 2018. Log exports increased from 642,000 m3 in 2014 to a high of 941,000 m3 in 2017 but fell back to 895,000 m3 in 2018.
Sawnwood production was 400,000 m3 in 2018, higher than the previous five years when production fluctuated around 350,000 m3. According to ITTO, sawnwood exports remained quite flat, at around 170,000 m3 per year between 2015 and 2018.
There is only limited veneer and plywood capacity in the country with ITTO estimating production of 66,000 m3 and 30,000 m3 respectively in 2018, with negligible volumes exported.
Congo’s imports and exports of timber products in the latest 12 months (USD value from January 2019 to December 2019)
NOTE: Mirror data from STIX, drawing on trade data reported by Congo’s main trading partners, is used. Read more about the data in ‘Data Sources and Issues’.
Hover over the chart to see the value.
| Imports (43.71 Million USD) | Exports (387.2 Million USD) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Country | Product | Product | Country | Region |
Congo’s production, imports, exports and domestic consumption of primary wood products in 2018
(data source: ITTO) Hover over the chart to see the value.
Trend in production, imports, exports and domestic consumption of primary wood products (logs, sawnwood, plywood, and veneer) in Congo
(data source: ITTO) 
Imports
Imports
NOTE: Mirror data from STIX, drawing on trade data reported by Congo’s main trading partners, is used. Read more about the data in ‘Data Sources and Issues’.
Highlights
The Republic of Congo imported timber and timber products with total value of around US$63 million in 2018, up from US$48 million in 2017 but a decline from US$127 million in 2015.
Around US$21 million of imports in 2018 derived from the EU, the majority comprising paper (notably from France) and wood furniture (notably from Italy).
There was a sharp increase in paper product imports from South Korea from negligible levels in 2017 to nearly 1,400 tonnes valued at US$16 million in 2018.
Around US$9 million of import value was from China in 2018, down from US$13 million in 2017. In 2018, around two thirds of imports from China comprised paper products and the remainder wood furniture.
Trend in Congo’s timber product imports by region (12-month rolling averages)
Congo’s top 5 import partners in the latest 12 months (from January 2019 to December 2019)
| Country | Value (Million USD) |
|---|---|
| China | 12.39 |
| Indonesia | 9.04 |
| France | 8.31 |
| Italy | 3.77 |
| Spain | 1.77 |
Congo’s timber product imports by product group in the latest 12 months (from January 2019 to December 2019)
| Product | Value (Million USD) |
|---|---|
| Paper | 28.89 |
| Furniture | 12.27 |
| Wood | 2.54 |
*Timber products are categorized according to Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) codes: wood (chapter 44), pulp (chapter 47), paper (chapter 48) and furniture (chapter 94)
Congo’s timber product imports by product group and region (12-month rolling averages)
*Timber products are categorized according to Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) codes: wood (chapter 44), pulp (chapter 47), paper (chapter 48) and furniture (chapter 94)
Congo’s timber product imports from top 5 origin countries by product group (12-month rolling averages)
*Timber products are categorized according to Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) codes: wood (chapter 44), pulp (chapter 47), paper (chapter 48) and furniture (chapter 94)
Total value of Congo’s wood product imports from top 5 origin countries in the latest 12 months (from January 2019 to December 2019)
(unit: 1000 USD)
| Composite panels | Fuel and charcoal | Joinery | Logs and other raw wood | Other processed wood | Pallets, packaging and barrels | Sawnwood and mouldings | Veneers and plywood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All countries | 530 | 16 | 868 | 652 | 261 | 45 | 41 | 132 |
| Rank 1 | Spain 351 | China 8 | Belgium 284 | New Zealand 652 | France 133 | Belgium 31 | Brazil 19 | China 89 |
| Rank 2 | France 99 | Belgium 5 | China 227 | China 42 | France 5 | Germany 15 | France 41 | |
| Rank 3 | Belgium 43 | South Africa 3 | France 167 | Spain 40 | South Africa 5 | United Kingdom 5 | Belgium 2 | |
| Rank 4 | China 33 | South Africa 66 | Brazil 21 | Italy 3 | Portugal 2 | |||
| Rank 5 | Portugal 4 | Italy 52 | United States 10 | Denmark 1 |
*Wood products are products under Chapter 44 of Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS).
Exports
Exports
NOTE: Mirror data from STIX, drawing on trade data reported by Congo’s main trading partners, is used. Read more about the data in ‘Data Sources and Issues’.
Highlights
In total, RoC exported timber products with a value of around US$379 million in 2018, 5% less than the previous year.
The decline was due to a 16% fall in exports to China, to US$216 million, only partly offset by rising exports to Viet Nam (+32% to US$38 million), Belgium (+41% to US$27 million) and France (+25% to US$22 million).
In 2018, 66% of all timber product export value comprised logs with most of the remainder sawnwood (29%) and veneer (4%).
In 2018, timber exports were destined mainly for China (57% of value), the EU (24%), and Viet Nam (10%).
Total value of Congo’s exports of timber products in the latest 12 months (from January 2019 to December 2019)
| Total export: | 387.2 Million USD |
| Total export to EU: | 104.39 Million USD |
| Total export to other regulated countries (Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Republic of Korea, United States of America, and Viet Nam): | 10.93 Million USD |
Trend in Congo’s timber product exports by region (12-month rolling averages)
Congo’s top 5 export partners in the latest 12 months (from January 2019 to December 2019)
| Country | Value (Million USD) |
|---|---|
| China | 249.36 |
| Belgium | 35.98 |
| France | 22.73 |
| United Kingdom | 16.45 |
| United States | 14.80 |
Trend in Congo’s timber product exports to EU and other regulated countries (12-month rolling averages)
*Other regulated countries include Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Republic of Korea, United States of America, and Viet Nam
Total value of Congo’s exports by timber product group in the latest 12 months (from January 2019 to December 2019)
| Product | Value (Million USD) |
|---|---|
| Wood | 387.11 |
| Furniture | 0.08 |
| Paper | 0.01 |
*Timber products are categorized according to Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) codes: wood (chapter 44), pulp (chapter 47), paper (chapter 48) and furniture (chapter 94)
Trend in Congo’s exports by timber product group and region (12-month rolling averages)
*Timber products are categorized according to Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) codes: wood (chapter 44), pulp (chapter 47), paper (chapter 48) and furniture (chapter 94)
Trend in Congo’s exports to top 5 destination countries by timber product group (12-month rolling averages)
*Timber products are categorized according to Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) codes: wood (chapter 44), pulp (chapter 47), paper (chapter 48) and furniture (chapter 94)
Trend in Congo’s timber product exports to regulated (EU and others) and unregulated countries (12-month rolling averages)
*Timber products are categorized according to Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) codes: wood (chapter 44), pulp (chapter 47), paper (chapter 48) and furniture (chapter 94)
Total value of Congo’s wood product exports in the latest 12 months (from January 2019 to December 2019)
(unit: 1000 USD)
| Joinery | Logs and other raw wood | Other processed wood | Sawnwood and mouldings | Veneers and plywood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All countries | 3,228 | 236,127 | 913 | 134,312 | 12,530 |
| Rank 1 | Belgium 2,440 | China 213,782 | France 820 | China 34,839 | France 6,356 |
| Rank 2 | France 720 | Belgium 8,690 | Portugal 46 | Belgium 24,509 | Greece 1,722 |
| Rank 3 | United Kingdom 59 | France 6,405 | United States 38 | United Kingdom 16,187 | Italy 1,646 |
| Rank 4 | Italy 6 | Portugal 3,969 | Belgium 7 | United States 14,430 | Portugal 1,285 |
| Rank 5 | Netherlands 3 | Italy 1,035 | Spain 2 | France 8,425 | China 736 |
Trend in Congo’s wood product exports to regulated countries (12-month rolling averages)
*Regulated countries include European Union, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Republic of Korea, United States of America, and Viet Nam.
EU Imports
EU Imports
(data source: Eurostat COMEXT)
Highlights
- In 2018, after a slower year in 2017, EU imports from RoC of logs rebounded 7% to 33,000 m3, sawnwood increased by 8% to 61,000 m3, and veneer increased by 14% to 20,000 m3.
Trend in EU imports of timber products from Congo by product group (12-month rolling averages)
Trend in EU timber product imports from Congo to top 5 destination countries (12-month rolling averages)
Trend in timber product imports from Congo to top 5 EU countries by product group (12-month rolling averages)
Trend in EU imports of wood products from Congo by product group (12-month rolling averages)
Trend in wood product imports from Congo to top 5 EU countries by product group (12-month rolling averages)
Total quantity of EU imports of wood product from Congo to top 5 destination countries in the latest 12 months (from January 2019 to December 2019)
(unit: kg)
| Joinery | Logs and other raw wood | Other processed wood | Sawnwood and mouldings | Veneers and plywood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All countries | 2,038,885 | 34,383,968 | 468,643 | 62,721,055 | 9,968,708 |
| Rank 1 | Belgium 1,635,274 | Belgium 14,542,469 | France 443,382 | Belgium 26,596,578 | France 5,907,322 |
| Rank 2 | France 378,183 | France 10,889,863 | Portugal 25,168 | United Kingdom 12,450,423 | Greece 1,487,733 |
| Rank 3 | United Kingdom 21,000 | Portugal 6,035,797 | Belgium 74 | France 8,577,902 | Italy 1,251,656 |
| Rank 4 | Italy 2,823 | Italy 1,727,383 | Malta 11 | Netherlands 5,514,486 | Portugal 951,780 |
| Rank 5 | Netherlands 1,605 | Germany 548,359 | Spain 7 | Portugal 1,956,871 | Belgium 302,185 |
*Wood products are products under Chapter 44 of Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS).
Data Sources and Issues
Data Sources and Issues
- Due to lack of regular data on timber product exports from Republic of Congo, the statistics shown in this IMM report draw on trade data from 44 major timber trading countries in the EU, Asia and America. While these countries include many of RoC’s most significant trade partners, there are data gaps, notably relating to overland trade flows with neighbouring countries in Africa.