1. CENTRAL AND WEST AFRICA

  Production and demand overview
The weather remains the main limiting factor for
production across the region. Heavy rains continue to
disrupt harvesting, road conditions and log transport in
Cameroon, Gabon, Congo and the Central African
Republic.

Cameroon, northern Congo and the DRC are expected to
enter the long dry season at the end of December lasting
around six months. Gabon and northern Congo will see a
shorter dry period of two to three months beginning at the
end of December after which rains will return until July or
August.

International market conditions remain stable but weak.
The European market continues to be dull with limited
activity. The Middle East is showing renewed interest in
Okoume while red species continue to perform relatively
well. Buyers for the Chinese market remain quiet,
purchasing mainly Belli, Ovangkol and Okan, with no
substantial change in buying volumes. Viet Nam demand
remains steady maintaining a consistent buying pattern
without significant fluctuations.

Regional update

Gabon
The forestry sector Task Force continues strict limits on
companies which have unpaid taxes and social charges.
Many companies have now been freed of restrictions after
paying 40% of their calculated arrears.

A main supplier of okoume to peeling mills in the Nkok
Special Economic Zone has resumed activity which will
improve log availability. Despite this, tension remain high
among operators, subcontractors and exporters due to the
financial burden created by the Task Force measures.

Red species such as Bosse, Sapelli, Padouk, Azobe and
Okan are present in smaller but consistent volumes.
Millers continue to depend on GSEZ log stocks due to
earlier disruptions stemming from Task Force
interventions.

Okoume demand has slightly improved as exporters in
Brazil are asking higher prices for pine but volumes are
yet to reflect significant recovery.

International demand remains weak. Europe continues to
purchase only on a supply-on-demand basis due to heavy
winter stock levels. China’s demand is very low, still
influenced by a significant log surplus in Zhangjiagang
and the domestic economic sentiment.

New domestic housing and construction initiatives have
been mentioned by government officials. The construction
sector is a driver of the economy. Boosted by major
infrastructure projects the construction sector grew by
48% in 2024 and could grow faster in 2026, according to
government forecasts.

There are plans for new roads, schools, universities,
hospitals, housing and administrative buildings. Among
the various projects the ‘Emerald City’ plan symbolises a
commitment to urban modernisation.

See:https://www.lenouveaugabon.com/fr/economie/2010-20628-
le-gabon-mise-sur-la-diversification-pour-doper-sa-croissance-
hors-petrole

High unemployment and limited household purchasing
power holds back domestic consumption, including for
construction-related materials. Erratic power supplies
continue to hinder industrial output. Daily cut-offs, two to
three per day, remain common.

Although a third Turkish power ship is intended to raise
total production capacity connection delays continue to
prolong interruptions. Heavy rains have increased water
levels at the Kinguélé dam, the country's first hydroelectric
complex, may help alleviate power shortages.

Operators report container availability is sufficient and
transport to the port is generally smooth where there are
tarmac roads. Port operations in Libreville remain
functional though vessels typically wait several days
before berthing due to congestion.

Customs export duties will rise sharply from 8.6% to
12.5% as of 1 January 2026. This increase is expected to
add further cost pressure on exported sawn and processed
timber with direct implications for price competitiveness
next year.

Cameroon
Harvesting activities continue but are increasingly affected
by persistent rainfall. Continuous rains across forest
regions are reducing accessibility and slowing the flow of
logs. Enquiries from international buyers remain modest
reflecting both cautious buyers and subdued global
markets. No major upward movement is reported across
species.

Operational activity is progressing but remains slow,
influenced by uncertainty, rains and the recent closure of
three sawmills in Douala. As the dry season approaches
operators expect a gradual improvement in production and
transport conditions, although investment remains limited
for now.

Railway services remain functional with no major
disruptions noted. Road connections to ports are open but
negatively affected by weather conditions with delays on
secondary routes.

Container availability remains stable. Sufficient empty
containers are reported across Cameroon and no shortages
have been noted in the main logistics corridors. Port
activities continue under normal conditions. Dispatch is
occurring with no significant operational disturbances
from port authorities or maritime agents.


Implementation of EUTR remains a key focus. Since
September a specialised Forestry Inspection Team has
been active in the field, checking operators for compliance
in both forest operations and milling.

Republic of the Congo
Operations in Congo remain generally quiet with political
speculation rising ahead of next year’s presidential
elections. Forest sector activity continues at a slow and
measured pace with ongoing export controls. Officially,
log exports should cease but the level of enforcement is
unclear and operators continue working cautiously within
an uncertain policy environment.

Timber sector activity in the Congo remained steady
through to the end of November although overall
momentum continues to be subdued. Harvesting is
ongoing with operators working on the principal
commercial species, Sapelli, Ayous, Iroko, Padouk, Azobe
and Okoume. Production levels, however, are tempered by
weak international demand particularly from China, where
purchasing activity remains low.

Transportation to Douala continues to function as usual
with no major new disturbances reported. Operators
maintain their reliance on this corridor despite the
distances involved. Port operations in Pointe-Noire remain
functional, albeit with the typical congestion pressures
associated with vessel traffic. While there have been no
notable disruptions, cumulative delays remain an
operational challenge for exporters.

Domestic regulatory oversight remains firm. Forestry
authorities continue enforcing CITES regulations with
additional compliance requirements tied to the EUTR
under review.

Sawmills generally maintain log inventories sufficient for
two to three months of production allowing them some
buffer against fluctuating supply and external demand
cycles. Market sentiment remains muted across key
destinations. Europe and China continue to show limited
buying constraining export-driven growth.

The country remains heavily dependent on oil revenues
which account for approximately 60% of national
earnings. The remaining income is generated by forestry,
agriculture, gold and various other sectors. This structural
fragility is expected to influence the timber sector
indirectly as the country approaches a politically active
2026 with early signals of heightened political
manoeuvring already emerging.

Central African Republic
Political developments dominate discussions in the DRC.
Timber operations are still disrupted by rains and market
conditions mirror those observed earlier in the month with
no significant change in supply or demand.



 Through the eyes of industry
The latest GTI report lists the challenges identified by the
private sector in the Republic of Congo and Gabon.

See: chrome-
extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.itto-
ggsc.org/static/upload/file/20251119/1763515845482749.pdf

2. GHANA

  Major tax reforms in 2026 budget
Parliament has passed the Value Added Tax (VAT)
Amendment Bill following its announcement by the
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ato Forson, in the 2026 Budget
Statement.

The Statement announced some major tax reforms which
the Minister described as “the designing of a modernised
Valued Added Tax (VAT) system fit for Ghana’s
economic transformation agenda”.

The package of VAT reforms was intended to make
Ghana’s tax system more equitable, transparent and
business-friendly and included: abolishing the 1%
COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, abolishing the
decoupling of the 2.5% GET Fund and 2.5% NHIL levies
from the VAT tax base allowing both levies to be subject
to input tax deductions, reducing the effective VAT rate
from 21.9% to 20.0% and raising the VAT registration
threshold from GH¢200,000 to GH¢750,000 to reduce the
tax compliance burden on small and micro-businesses

Implementation is expected to be January 2026 and will
introduce Fiscal Electronic Devices (FEDs) to improve
VAT compliance and track taxable transactions, digital
VAT collection on cross-border e-commerce and a new
VAT reward scheme encouraging consumers to demand
receipts to support compliance.

The new VAT regime seems to indicate the government
prefers using existing tax laws, rather than introduce new
taxes to capture greater revenue. The Finance Minister,
who led the policy revisions, said the new legislation will
remove distortions, reduce cascading effects, promote
compliance and improve economic efficiency for
businesses.

According to the Country Managing Partner of Ernst and
Young, Emmanuel Adekahlor, the success of the 2026
Budget hinges on effective implementation of expenditure
controls and a strong commitment to keep spending within
approved limits.

See: https://www.myjoyonline.com/parliament-passes-value-added-tax-
bill-2025-covid-19-levy-abolished/
and
https://www.mofep.gov.gh/sites/default/files/budget-statements/2026-
Budget-Statement-and-Economic-Policy.pdf
and
https://www.myjoyonline.com/success-of-2026-budget-hinges-on-
effective-implementation-of-expenditure-controls-others-ey-boss/

EU supports Ghana’s forest restoration
The European Union has provided €2.4 million in grants
to three not-for-profit organisations to support the
restoration of about 5,000 hectares of forest in some
selected forest reserve zones of the country. The project is
to be implemented in the Ahafo, Bono East, Upper East
and Western regions.

According to the Head of Infrastructure and Sustainable
Development at the EU Delegation to Ghana, Paulina
Pozycka, the increasing degradation of forest reserves
poses serious risks to ecosystems, local economies and
surrounding communities so needs to be addressed.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event to launch the project
she added that the initiative also includes building the
capacity of 20,000 farmers in rural communities to help
improve their livelihoods.

Ghana’s forests are important for biodiversity, support
climate resilience, water and food security, while serving
as sources of livelihood for thousands of people,
particularly fringe communities.

See: https://www.myjoyonline.com/eu-launches-
gh%E2%82%B531m-forest-restoration-grant-scheme-in-ghanas-
northern-belt-and-forest-zones/
and
https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general/forest-restoration-
ghana/2025/

Major export markets for wood product
A total of 160,974cu.m of wood products were exported to
Ghana’s major market destinations during the first three
quarters (January to September) of 2025. This is 23%
below the volume in the first three quarters of 2024
according to available statistics from the Timber Industry
Development Division (TIDD) of the Forestry
Commission (FC).



 Air-dried sawnwood accounted for close to 58% of the
total export volume of wood products export for the period
January to September 2025 against 57% last year. This
product, together with five other products including billets,
reflected the growing demand for primary products which
was 67% against that of secondary processed wood
products and tertiary wood products which accounted for
30% and 3% respectively.

Compared to the previous year primary, secondary and
tertiary represented 68%, 30% and 2% respectively.

Exports to Asia earned Euro 40.01 million (54% of the
total for the period) from a volume of 105,939cu.m . This
represented a decrease of 24% in value and a 22% in
volume against figures for the same period in 2024.
Products exported to these markets included air and kiln
dry sawnwood, sliced veneer, billets and mouldings.

Europe was the second largest importer for Ghana’s wood
products generating Eur17.92 million from 25,861 cu.m
from January to September 2025 which reflects a 9% drop
in value and a 20% drop in volume compared to the same
period in 2024.

The export value from trade within Africa during the
period under review was Eur6.64 million from an export
volume of volumes of 16,080cu.m. The ECOWAS sub-
regional market absorbed 12,774cu.m of the total African
wood product trade valued at Eur4.85 million.

While other major destinations included Egypt, Morocco,
Mauritius and South Africa. Export products included
sawnwood, veneers (sliced & rotary), plywood, mouldings
and poles.

The shipment of the various wood products went through
the Takoradi and Tema (Ghana’s two main seaports) as
well as overland to neighbouring countries.

Calls for private sector to help restore degraded lands
The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Browne
Klutse, has called on the private sector to partner with
government and environmental agencies to help restore
degraded lands across the country.

She expressed deep concern over the extensive destruction
of farmlands, forests and water bodies caused by illegal
mining activities which she described as a major threat to
the country’s environmental sustainability and economic
progress.

Speaking at an event in the Ashanti Region, Professor
Klutse stressed that the cost of restoring degraded lands,
estimated at 3 million hectares, is enormous. She
underscored the need for collective efforts, particularly
from the private sector, to help rehabilitate affected areas
and promote sustainable land management practices as
Government and EPA cannot do it alone.

The Ghana Institute of Foresters has called for tighter laws
and policies to prevent mining in the country’s productive
forest reserves including the destruction of excavators and
equipment used in illegal mining.

Dr. Hugh C.A. Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the
Forestry Commission, has described the fight against
illegal mining as a “scary and life-threatening mission” for
officers protecting Ghana’s forest reserves. He revealed
that officers of the Commission face constant threats and
intimidation from illegal miners and called for stronger
government and security support to safeguard the
country’s natural resources.

In his 2026 Budget Statement to Parliament, the Finance
Minister announced that an amount of GH¢150 million
has been allocated to the National Anti-Illegal Mining
Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) for their activities
against illegal mining and forest degradation in the
country.

See: https://citinewsroom.com/2025/11/private-sector-urged-to-
help-restore-ghanas-degraded-lands-epa/
and
https://3news.com/news/galamsey-fight-has-become-scary-ceo-
of-forestry-commission

Economy grew 5% in August
According to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS)
provisional Monthly Indicator of Economic Growth
(MIEG) data, the economy grew at a rate of 5.1% in
August 2025 representing a marginal increase over the 4.9
% posted in August 2024.

The Agricultural Sector grew by 7.4 % in August 2025
compared with 2.3% in August 2024 contributing about
27% to Gross Domestic Products (GDP) growth. While
the Industrial Sector, on the other hand, contracted by
almost 2% in August 2025,compared to August 2024.

The Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Johnson Asiama,
revealed that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) international
reserves stand at US$11.41 bil., equivalent to 4.8 months
of import cover. At the recent policy board meeting,
majority of the members voted to reduce the policy rate
significantly by 350 basis points to 18 % from 21.5%, the
lowest since March 2022.

This brings good news to industrialists as the prevailing
average lending rates by commercial banks have, since the
beginning of 2025, moved from 31.5% to 22.0% in
October 2025.

The Governor described this development as a strong sign
of improving economic stability but indicated the
committee will continue to monitor development and take
the appropriate policy decisions to ensure sound and stable
macroeconomic conditions.

See: https://www.graphic.com.gh/business/business-
news/ghanas-economy-expands-by-5-1-in-august-2025-as-
services-sector-leads-strong-growth.html
and
https://www.myjoyonline.com/bog-reserves-hit-11bn-as-import-
cover-nears-five-months-dr-asiama/




Through the eyes of industry
The latest GTI report lists the challenges identified by the
private sector in Ghana.

See: chrome-
extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.itto-
ggsc.org/static/upload/file/20251119/1763515845482749.pdf

3. MALAYSIA

  Netherlands reaffirms recognition of MTCS
The Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) has
announced the formal decision by the Government of the
Netherlands to affirm the status of the Malaysian Timber
Certification Scheme (MTCS) and the Programme for the
Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) International
under its stringent Dutch Timber Procurement Policy
(TPP).

In an official letter dated 6 November 2025 the definitive
finding was conveyed to PEFC International by the
Director-General for the Environment and International
Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water
Management, Netherlands.

The press release from MTCS says the government of
Netherlands has reached this decision following a
comprehensive and independent review by the Timber
Procurement Assessment Committee (TPAC), culminating
in its ‘Final Judgement Detailed Research MTCS’ report.

In its official statement the Minister for the Environment
has received and formally endorsed the TPAC report.
TPAC has concluded that both PEFC International and
MTCS are compliant with the requirements of the Dutch
Timber Procurement Assessment System (TPAS). Hence,
based on TPAC’s expert advice the Minister has officially
decided to maintain the admitted status of PEFC
International to the Dutch timber procurement policy.

This final recognition by the Government of the
Netherlands establishes a significant and powerful
reaffirmation of international stakeholder confidence in
the operational integrity, transparency and robustness of
MTCS as Malaysia’s national timber certification scheme.

See: https://mtcc.com.my/netherlands-government-upholds-
recognition-of-the-malaysian-timber-certification-scheme-mtcs-
following-conclusive-tpac-review/

Malaysian Wood Expo 2025
The Malaysian Wood Expo (MWE) 2025 a premier
international timber and woodworking trade exhibition
organised by the Malaysian Timber Council was held in
November. At the opening the Minister of Plantation and
Commodities highlighted Malaysia’s longstanding
commitment to sustainable forestry. “Today, around 55%
of the nation’s land area remains under forest cover and
5.85 million hectares of forests have been certified under
the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS)
placing Malaysia among the top ten countries globally
with the largest area of sustainably managed forests” he
added.

This year’s Expo featured 127 exhibitors from 19
countries, including China, Germany, Austria, Uruguay
and Thailand. MWE 2025 also featured a high-level
Timber Conference gathering global experts and industry
leaders to share insights on market developments,
innovation and sustainable design trends.

See: https://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=52711

Sarawak to explore use of synthetic timber for
construction
At the opening of the ‘International Conference on
Industrial Forest Plantation Research and Innovation
(ICFPRI) 2025’ in Kuching, Premier Abang Johari Tun
Openg suggested building contractors in Sarawak should
consider exploring the use of synthetic timber as part of
Sarawak’s shift towards a green economy.

He added that under the Sarawak Land Use Policy 7
million hectares of the State’s 12.4 million hectares have
been formally allocated for sustainable forestry and
conservation. The Premier noted that Sarawak currently
maintains approximately 7.65 million hectares, or 62% of
its landmass under forest cover.

Abang Johari also talked about Forest Management
Certification (FMC) a key tool to ensure Sarawak’s
products would meet stringent international standards. “To
date, 17 Forest Management Units and nine Forest
Plantation Management Units, covering 1.53 million
hectares and 127,311 hectares respectively have been
certified.

Focus on achieving RM8 billion export target
The Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation
(STIDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to aggressively
developing the state’s timber and non-wood forest
products sector targeting a strategic export value of RM8
billion by 2030.

In highlighting this ambitious goal, a recent workshop was
held, gathering 70 participants including representatives
from key government agencies, the Sarawak Timber
Association (STA), the Sarawak Furniture Industry
Association (SFIA) and major industry players like
Harwood Timber co ltd. The workshop was to review and
refine strategies under the Post-Covid Development
Strategy (PCDS) 2030, with a primary focus on achieving
the bold RM8 billion export target.

The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Urban Development underscored the
sector’s economic significance. “While the industry
currently supports approximately 12,000 direct jobs and
had recorded exports worth about RM2.8 billion in 2024,
these figures reveal a significant gap that must be closed to
meet the PCDS 2030 target”.

See:
http://theborneopost.pressreader.com/article/281548002171945
and
http://theborneopost.pressreader.com/article/281543707197220

Satellite technology to monitor GHG emissions
Sarawak is taking a major step forward in advancing
scientific cooperation with Japan through a new
partnership that will use satellite technology to monitor
and verify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the signing of
a memorandum of understanding between the Sarawak
Forest Department and Osaka Metropolitan University in
Japan which could involve collaboration on the use of
Japan's Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (Gosat) for
assessing and monitoring GHG emissions through the Net
Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) measurement.

For Sarawak, the collaboration will further strengthen the
State's credibility in independent reporting within the
Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), as Gosat provides
scientifically verified and independent data streams.

The scope of the partnership also covers joint research
activities in forest ecosystem studies and biodiversity
conservation, as well as joint publication of research
outcomes between both parties.

Meanwhile Sarawak is set to deepen and diversify its
longstanding partnership with Japan beyond forest
restoration, with new collaborations to be explored in
green technology, carbon trading, biodiversity science and
human capital development.

Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg said the State is ready to
build on the success of its 30-year cooperation between the
Japanese Malaysia Association (JMA) and the Sarawak
Forest Department to venture into high-impact sectors
aligned with global sustainability goals.

See:
https://theborneopost.pressreader.com/article/281569476994044
and
https://theborneopost.pressreader.com/article/281483577646129

Through the eyes of industry
The latest GTI report lists the challenges identified by the
private sector in Malaysia.

See: chrome-
extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.itto-
ggsc.org/static/upload/file/20251119/1763515845482749.pdf

4.  INDONESIA

  Industrial plantations as a core renewable energy
source
Indonesia is positioning its Industrial Plantation Forests as
a key driver in the global shift toward renewable energy
according to the Director General of Sustainable Forest
Management, Laksmi Wijayanti. She stressed that
plantations should be understood not only as a timber
source but as a central pillar of the future green economy.

She explained that the government is directing plantation
forest management to support the energy transition by
producing biomass and other bioenergy materials to
replace fossil-based inputs.

Laksmi also highlighted the SVLK certification system as
Indonesia’s global “green passport,” ensuring legality,
traceability and sustainability for all forest products,
including biomass. She emphasised that this system
reinforces Indonesia’s NDC commitments and aligns with
international frameworks such as FLEGT-VPA, thereby
boosting confidence in sustainable supply chains.

In related news, the Director General of Sustainable Forest
Management explained that regenerative forestry bridges
environmental protection and economic progress
supported by upcoming green policies, incentives and
stronger partnerships between the private sector and
forest-dependent communities.

This approach aims to attract sustainable investment while
ensuring that forest management contributes both to
climate goals and local prosperity.

The country’s model emphasises high-value forest
commodities such as forest-grown coffee, certified organic
honey and essential oils from endemic plants, products
that support community livelihoods while maintaining
ecological balance. Laksmi stressed that multi-sector
collaboration is essential to accelerate the shift toward an
inclusive green economy.

See: https://forestinsights.id/indonesia-positions-industrial-
plantation-forests-as-a-global-backbone-for-renewable-energy-
transition/
and
https://forestinsights.id/regenerative-forestry-business-promoted-
as-a-pillar-of-green-economy-and-social-justice/

Strengthening competency of workers to achieve US6
billion exports
The Indonesia Furniture Industry and Craft Association
(HIMKI) is prioritising stronger human resource
development through relevant and market-oriented
professional certification.

Chairman Abdul Sobur said that improving the quality and
competency of workers is essential for raising the
competitiveness of the country’s furniture and craft sector
and achieving the export target by 2030. He highlighted
that practical skills, real work portfolios and credible
certification systems are crucial to meeting global
standards.

Sobur also noted that Indonesia is at a strategic moment to
become a global hub for production and creativity as long
as it builds solid quality and competency standards. He
pointed out that many local craft products already align
with international market demands, especially those
inspired by the Monozukuri philosophy which stresses
skill, precision and the creation of high-quality goods.

See:https://www.antaranews.com/berita/5252657/himki-
tekankan-penguatan-sertifikasi-wujudkan-ekspor-6-miliar-dolar-
as

Indonesia and Japan cooperation on sustainable
mangroves
Indonesia and Japan have strengthened their collaboration
on sustainable mangrove management and climate
resilience as reaffirmed during a bilateral meeting between
Indonesia’s Deputy Forestry Minister, Rohmat Marzuki
and representatives of the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) at the Tropical Forest Summit in Belém,
Brazil. Rohmat expressed appreciation for JICA’s
continued support and flexibility, noting that the
partnership remains aligned with the shared goal of
advancing sustainable mangrove ecosystems and climate
adaptation efforts.

The discussion also focused on enhancing the role of
Indonesia’s Mangrove Information Center (MIC) which
contributes to the World Mangrove Center (WMC)
network.

Indonesia committed to developing the MIC into a
regional and international hub for learning, research and
knowledge exchange. Technical preparations including
facility upgrades, expert recruitment and coordination with
relevant agencies are currently underway. Indonesia also
looks forward to ongoing support from JICA to strengthen
the MIC’s operational and technical capacity within the
WMC framework.

See: https://en.antaranews.com/news/391549/indonesia-japan-
boost-cooperation-on-sustainable-mangrove-projects

Indonesia, Fiji move to deepen cooperation in
responsible forestry
Indonesia and Fiji are exploring deeper cooperation in
responsible forestry through the UN’s REDD+ climate
mitigation framework and the voluntary carbon market.
During a meeting with Conservation International on the
sidelines of COP30 in Brazil, Fiji commended Indonesia’s
achievements in sustainable forest management and
expressed interest in learning from its best practices.

The Pacific nation highlighted its intention to build a
partnership centered on knowledge exchange and
capacity-building in climate mitigation and forest
governance.

Indonesia welcomed the idea with Haruni Krisnawati, the
Forestry Ministry’s Expert Staff for Climate Change,
affirming the country’s readiness to enhance collaboration.
She emphasised, however, that the foundation of
cooperation must be renewed as the previous 2018
memorandum of understanding expired in 2023. Updating
this MoU, she stated, is essential for both countries to
elevate their joint efforts in addressing climate change and
advancing sustainable forestry initiatives.

See: https://en.antaranews.com/news/392021/indonesia-fiji-
move-to-deepen-cooperation-in-responsible-forestry

Bolstering carbon market integrity and collaboration
Indonesia has reiterated its commitment to strengthening
the integrity of carbon markets and enhancing global
collaboration Deputy Forestry Minister, Rohmat Marzuki,
said at a COP30 event hosted at Singapore’s Pavilion. He
emphasised Indonesia’s support for the principles
promoted by the Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets noting
that these guidelines help governments and companies
uphold high-integrity carbon credit systems. Marzuki
underscored Indonesia’s readiness to work with all
partners to ensure transparency and credibility in carbon
trading.

He also expressed appreciation to the coalition’s founding
members, Kenya, the United Kingdom, Singapore, France
and Panama for their leadership in building trustworthy
market frameworks.

Indonesia views the coalition as instrumental in
accelerating climate action and supporting sustainable
development by mobilising private financing through
carbon markets.

Marzuki affirmed that Indonesia shares the coalition’s
vision of ensuring that carbon trading remains transparent,
credible and beneficial to both communities and the
environment while contributing to sustainable economic
growth.

In related news, Indonesia reported strong progress in
carbon credit transactions at its pavilion during COP30 in
Belém, Brazil. Within a week of opening on 10
November, the country reported nearly Rp7 trillion in
carbon trades representing 13.5 million tonnes of CO₂
credits.

These included 12 million tonnes from technology-based
projects and 1.5 million tonnes from the forestry and other
land use sectors, alongside contributions from power-
generation initiatives. The Environment Minister, Hanif
Faisol Nurofiq, emphasised that the deals reflect growing
cooperation in efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and
boost Indonesia’s carbon-based economy.

The government aimed to finalise transactions from 44
projects totaling 90 million tonnes of CO₂, valued at Rp16
trillion, by the closing of COP30 on 21 November. To
help meet this target the Indonesia Pavilion is holding
daily Seller Meet Buyer sessions, its new matchmaking
platform for connecting carbon-credit sellers with buyers
and investors.

See: https://en.antaranews.com/news/391293/ri-doubles-down-
on-bolstering-carbon-market-integrity-collaboration
and
https://en.tempo.co/read/2066775/indonesias-carbon-sales-at-
cop30-near-rp7-trillion-out-of-rp16-trillion-goal

Nature-based climate action in ASEAN
Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to advancing nature-
based climate action in ASEAN by strengthening social
forestry, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Ecosystem-
based Adaptation (EbA). Speaking at a Social Forestry
Talk Show at the ASEAN Pavilion during COP30 in
Belém, Ministry of Forestry official Julmansyah
emphasised the crucial role forests play in supporting life,
culture and climate mitigation across the region.

ASEAN countries have integrated forests into their core
climate strategies, as seen in increasingly ambitious
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and
coordinated regional efforts. A key achievement is the
completion of guidelines and tools for implementing NbS
and EbA in sustainable forest management, developed
collaboratively by ASEAN working groups, UN-REDD
and other partners.

Representing ASEAN at COP30, Julmansyah highlighted
the need for sustainable and predictable climate finance to
ensure long-term forest protection, restoration and
management under NDC commitments. He also
underscored the importance of improving capacity-
building to strengthen technical and institutional
capabilities, particularly in monitoring, reporting and
verification (MRV), carbon accounting and transparent
reporting under the Enhanced Transparency Framework.

See: https://en.antaranews.com/news/392613/ri-committed-to-
strengthening-nature-based-climate-action-in-asean
and
https://mediaindonesia.com/humaniora/831750/hutan-sosial-jadi-
fondasi-strategi-iklim-baru-di-asean

Ensuring social forestry business groups see benefits
from the carbon market
The Ministry of Forestry announced that it is overseeing
benefit-sharing mechanisms to ensure Social Forestry
Business Groups (KUPS) gain fair advantages from
participation in the carbon market. According to Enik Eko
Wati, Secretary of the Directorate General of Social
Forestry, social forestry groups must work with partner
facilitators because preparing the required Mitigation
Action Plan Document (DRAM) involves high costs.

Cooperation agreements between KUPS and facilitators
must be approved by the Head of the Social Forestry
Agency and documentation of the benefit-sharing
mechanism must be included before final approval by the
Minister to prevent communities from being
disadvantaged.

Enik stressed that all communities participating in
activities under the Carbon Economic Value (NEK)
framework will receive outreach and Free, Prior and
Informed Consent (FPIC). This requirement applies not
only to carbon trading but also to result-based payments
(RBP) and result-based contributions (RBC). She
emphasised that FPIC is essential to ensure communities
fully understand their rights and obligations before
entering any carbon-governance commitments.

See: https://m.antaranews.com/amp/berita/5252505/kemenhut-
pastikan-kups-perhutanan-sosial-terima-manfaat-pasar-karbon

IEU-CEPA to provide new trade advantages for
Indonesia
The European Union (EU) has highlighted that the
Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement (IEU-CEPA) could provide significant trade
advantages for Indonesia, mainly through reduced export
tariffs.

EU Ambassador Denis Chaibi noted that several
Indonesian products, including footwear, clothing and
palm oil could enter the EU market with zero-percent
tariffs from the first day the agreement is implemented. He
stressed the urgency of finalising the deal before the
current Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) expires
on 1 January 2027 in order to maintain the
competitiveness of Indonesian products, which currently
face tariffs of 12–17%.

Chaibi also emphasised that sectors like footwear and
palm oil could gain a stronger competitive position
compared to other regional exporters, such as Vietnam and
Malaysia. However, he noted that Indonesia will need to
invest domestically to improve product quality, production
efficiency and supply chain transparency to fully benefit
from the tariff advantages.

Leveraging IEU-CEPA opportunities will require strategic
preparation to ensure Indonesia can capitalise on its
potential trade gains, Chaibi said.

See: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/5247393/ue-sebut-ieu-
cepa-berpotensi-beri-keunggulan-dagang-baru-indonesia



Through the eyes of industry
The latest GTI report lists the challenges identified by the
private sector in Indonesia.

See: chrome-
extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.itto-
ggsc.org/static/upload/file/20251119/1763515845482749.pdf

5. MYANMAR

6. INDIA

  Welcome easing of inflation
The annual rate of inflation based on the all India
Wholesale Price Index (WPI) was -1.21% for October
2025 (over October 2024). The negative rate of inflation in
October 2025 was primarily due to decreases in prices of
food articles, crude petroleum and natural gas, electricity,
mineral oils and manufactured basic metals.

The index for manufacturing was steady being 145.2 in
September 2025 and 145.1 in October. Out of the 22 NIC
two-digit groups for manufactured products, 7 groups saw
a decrease in prices, 11 groups saw an increase in prices
and for 4 groups there were no change in prices.

Some of the important groups that showed month on
month decrease in prices were manufacture of other non-
metallic mineral products, basic metals, chemicals and
chemical products, motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers
and printing and reproduction of recorded media.

 Some of the groups that witnessed an increase in prices
were manufacture of textiles, food products, computers,
electronic and optical products, electrical equipment and
wood, products of wood and cork in October 2025 as
compared to September 2025.

See: https://eaindustry.nic.in/



A blended approach to address climate change
The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate
Change, Bhupender Yadav, has said that India will require
investments of more than US$10 trillion by 2070 to
achieve its net-zero target.

He further emphasised the need to build trust in
environment friendly investments to achieve this goal.
Yadav said, “India is promoting blended approaches to
finance where public funds are used to encourage and de-
risk private investments in renewable energy, energy
efficiency, electric vehicles, waste-to-wealth initiatives
and nature-based solutions and resources”.

The Minister outlined the key principles guiding India’s
climate-related efforts: climate finance cannot be
separated from development finance, clean energy,
efficient cities, climate-resilient agriculture and strong
infrastructure are the foundation for national security and
industrial leadership and a country that successfully
mobilises green investments will do well in the industrial
value chains.

See: https://plyinsight.com/ambitious-target-for-net-zero/

Major reform of labour laws
The Central government has enacted sweeping reforms to
labour laws with the adoption of the Code on Wages
(2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social
Security (2020) and the Occupational Safety, Health and
Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code (2020). The Codes
came into effect 21 November 2025 and replaced 29
Central labour laws.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the decision,
describing it as “one of the most comprehensive labour-
oriented reforms since Independence.” Announcing the
implementation, the Ministry of Labour and Employment
said the Codes would modernise India’s labour
governance, expand social-security coverage and simplify
compliance procedures for industries.

The India's new labour codes aim to simplify regulations,
reduce compliance burdens and enhance worker welfare.
These reforms are expected to boost competitiveness by
offering greater flexibility in hiring and overtime,
potentially attracting more domestic and foreign
investment into manufacturing and services.

The long-awaited labour codes announced by the
Government represent a major change. For decades, labour
regulation were guided by a multiplicity of laws, many of
them dating back to the pre-independence era.

See:
https://ddnews.gov.in/en/centre-implements-four-labour-codes-
overhauling-29-existing-laws/

Urban housing landscape changing
TradeBrains, a leading Indian financial analysis and news
platform and a research analyst firm, has analysed the
main emerging housing trends reshaping Indian cities in
2025. The company says India’s urban housing landscape
in 2025 changed a lot driven by demographic shifts,
evolving lifestyle preferences, sustainability imperatives
and technological advancement.

See: https://tradebrains.in/money/top-9-emerging-housing-
trends-reshaping-indian-cities-in-2025-2/

7. VIETNAM

  Wood and Wood Product (W&P) trade highlights
According to the Viet Nam Customs Department, W&WP
exports in October 2025 amounted to US$1.53 billion, up
12.5% compared to September 2025, but down 0.9%
compared to October 2024 of which WP exports earned
U$$1 billion, up 12% compared to September 2025 but
down 1% compared to October 2024. In the first 10
months of 2025 W&WP exports earned US$14 billion, up
6% over the same period in 2024 of which exports of WP
reached US$9.6 billion, up 5% over the same period in
2024.

W&WP exports to the Netherland market in October 2025
earned US$8.8 million, down 23% compared to October
2024. In the first 10 months of 2025 W&WP exports to
this market totalled US$82.9 million, up 33% over the
same period in 2024.

W&WP exports to Spain in October 2025 were valued
US$4.8 million, up 5% compared to October 2024. In the
first 10 months of 2025 W&WP exports to Spain totalled
US$60.1 million, up 25% over the same period in 2024.

Viet Nam's W&WP imports in October 2025 were valued
US$248.4 million, down 6% compared to September
2025, however, compared to October 2024 imports
increased by 6%. In the first 10 months of 2025 W&WP
imports reached US$2.62 billion, up 16% over the same
period in 2024.

Viet Nam's pine imports in October 2025 were 89,900
cu.m, worth US$16.4 million, down 7% in volume and 6%
in value compared to September 2025. Compared to
October 2024 imports were down 13% in volume and 31%
in value. In the first 10 months of 2025 imports of pine
amounted to 874,000d cu.m, worth US$172.3 million, up
6% in volume but down 7% in value over the same period
in 2024.

In the first 9 months of 2025 wood imports from
Cameroon to Viet Nam reached 309,090 cu.m, with a
value of US$121.33 million, up 10% in volume and 3% in
value over the same period in 2024.

Sustainable softwood trends stand out at Viet
NamWood 2025
On 19 November, the 16th International Exhibition on
Machinery and Equipment for the Wood Processing
Industry (Viet NamWood 2025) officially opened at the
Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center attracting more
than 320 domestic and foreign enterprises.

With more than 320 enterprises from 28 countries
attending Viet NamWood has affirmed its position as one
of the leading events in the wood processing sector in Viet
Nam specialising in machinery, technology wood products
and consumables.

At Viet NamWood 2025, Canada Wood Viet Nam had an
impressive display space with a variety of interior
applications from Canadian timber helping visitors easily
visualise the practical application of Canadian wood
through many design styles.

Certified Canadian softwoods a viable option
According to Viet Nam Customs and the Viet Nam Wood
and Furniture Export Report 2024 – 2025 Viet Nam’s
wood and wood products exports reached US$16.25
billion in 2024 up 20% over the previous year. In 2025,
the industry aims to increase this figure to US$18 billion
shifting its focus towards sustainability, legal origin and
transparency of wood products.

Using certified wood from sustainably managed forests
not only meets legal requirements in Viet Nam but is also
an important strategy to help businesses maintain a
competitive advantage in the international market.

Certified Canadian softwoods present a solution to help
Vietnamese manufacturers improve product quality while
meeting the growing consumer trend of preferring
furniture products with transparent origins and made from
sustainable materials. In addition to supporting businesses
in accessing certified wood sources, Canadian Wood Viet
Nam also provides technical assistance programmes,
specialised training and market development consulting.

Mr. Tran Thanh Ven, Country Director of Canadian Wood
Viet Nam shared, Viet NamWood is a valuable
opportunity for Canadian Wood Viet Nam to connect and
exchange directly with partners and manufacturers in the
wood processing industry, helping us better understand the
needs and development trends in the Vietnamese market.

See:https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/xu-huong-go-mem-ben-vung-
noi-bat-tai-Viet Namwood-2025-20251119194112259.htm

Viet Nam's W&WP exports reach US$16.5 billion in 11
months
A conference to address difficulties, remove trade barriers
and expand the market for wood and forest product
exports was held on 21 November.

The Forestry and Forest Protection Department under the
Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination
with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and
Environment and the Handicraft and Wood Industry
Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA), hosted the
event.

Delivering his remarks, Deputy Director of the
Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, Nguyen
Van Dien, stated that although exports over 11 months
reached US$16.5 billion, growth was below expectations
at only 5.4%, below the projected 6%.

The main reasons are challenges in exporting to key
markets, technical barriers related to the legal origin of
wood, transparency requirements and ongoing pressures
on businesses.

Domestic production also faces difficulties due to extreme
weather disrupting raw material supply and impacting
processing capacity.

Mr. Ho Truc Thanh, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh
City Department of Agriculture and Environment, noted
that the City currently has over 5,120 enterprises
participating in the wood processing chain and is
promoting green transformation and digitalisation to meet
international standards. Meanwhile, Deputy Director of
the Trade Remedies Authority under the Ministry of
Industry and Trade, Truong Thuy Linh, reported that by
October 2025, Vietnamese goods faced 297 trade remedy
investigations with the US leading at 77 cases.

Authorities recommend that businesses fully comply with
investigation requests, maintain transparent documentation
and proactively diversify markets.

The conference concluded that the wood industry is at a
critical stage and requires close coordination between
regulatory agencies and enterprises to sustain export
growth in the coming period.

See: https://en.sggp.org.vn/Viet Nams-wood-exports-reach-
us165-billion-in-11-months-post121945.html
W&WP Exports/Imports 11 months 2025

Imports of logs and sawnwood (raw wood)
According to preliminary statistics imports of raw wood in
October 2025 stood at 530,600 cu.m, worth US$164.5
million, down 5% in volume and 5% in value compared to
September 2025 but compared to October 2024 imports
were up 4% in volume and 5% in value.

In the first 10 months of 2025, raw wood imports were
5.67 million cu.m, worth US$1.79 billion, up 23% in
volume and 20% in value over the same period in 2024.
In the first 9 months of 2025 the average import price of
raw wood to Viet Nam stood at US$316.7 per cu.m, down
3% over the same period in 2024.

Import prices of raw wood from China decreased by 23%
over the same period in 2024 to US$304.8 per cu.m; from
the US the price decreased by 3% to US$ 419.2 per cu.m
and from the EU prices increased by 0.5% over the same
period in 2024, reaching US$316.3 per cu.m.

Imports from US increased sharply in first 10 months
of 2025
W&WP imports from the US in the first 10 months of
2025 reached US$489 million, up 82% over the same
period in 2024 and accounted for nearly 19% of total
W&WP imports.

It is forecast that for 2025 imports of raw wood from the
US will total at 1.3 million cu.m, with a value of US$543
million  

8. BRAZIL

  Planted Forests - the foundation of a green economy
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30)
in Brazil, placed forests, particularly planted forests, at the
centre of low-carbon sustainable development solutions.

Silviculture, grounded in the cultivation and sustainable
management of trees, has become an essential activity for
the green economy. It provides a renewable source of
wood with an intrinsic capacity to sequester and store
carbon throughout the lifespan of products such as
furniture, panels and structural timber.

Brazil as a well-established infrastructure to contribute to
the global market for sustainable forest products.

The State of Paraná is one of the main hubs of plantation
sector with 1.17 million hectares of planted forests
(713,000 hectares of pine and 442,000 hectares of
eucalyptus).

This forest base supports job creation, generates added
value and directly contributes to environmental
conservation. A notable example is the work of companies
associated with APRE Florestas where, for every hectare
planted another hectare is set aside for the conservation of
native vegetation, demonstrating the integration of
production and preservation. Paraná accounts for
approximately 15% of jobs in Brazil’s forest sector and
13% of the country´s forestry companies, highlighting its
economic and social importance.

Despite lingering misconception that planted forests harm
conservation efforts, they are a part of the solution. They
ensure a supply of timber, reduce pressure on native
forests, contribute to soil and water conservation and
support the recovery of degraded areas.

COP30 represented an opportunity for the formal
recognition of the importance of planted forests in
decarbonisation.

Now is the time to strengthen public policies for
incentives, stimulate innovation and expand the use of
advanced technologies such as engineered wood,
sustainable forest management and sustainability
certification. The transition to a low-carbon economy
necessarily involves the consolidation of the forest sector.

See: https://apreflorestas.com.br/noticias/florestas-plantadas-a-
base-da-economia-verde-que-o-brasil-precisa-valorizar/

Amazon Fund resources to strengthen regional forest
monitoring
During the COP30) the Amazon Cooperation Treaty
Organization (ACTO) announced an important milestone
for forest protection; the receipt of R$55 million from the
Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) via the Amazon
Fund. The resources will be used to strengthen national
monitoring systems for the Amazon forest and for
upgrading the technical capacity of member countries for
preventing and controlling deforestation and forest
degradation.

This initiative brings together ACTO member countries
(Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru,
Suriname and Venezuela) with the goal of strengthening
technical capacities, standardising methodologies and
expanding efforts to prevent and control deforestation and
forest degradation.

The project will receive technological support from the
National Institute for Space Research (INPE) which will
be responsible for transferring monitoring technology to
other member countries. According to ACTO, technical
cooperation and methodological harmonisation are
essential to ensure effective preventive and corrective
responses across an interconnected biome.

Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment highlighted that its
technical-scientific panel will expand the data available for
formulating public policies on climate, biodiversity and
natural resources and that member countries will establish
a joint ministerial committee to align strategies against
transboundary environmental crimes and promote a
sustainable development agenda.

Among the instruments to be strengthened is the Regional
Amazon Observatory (ARO) which integrates multiple
information sources and provides the biome in areas such
as biodiversity, water resources, forests, wildfires,
indigenous peoples and protected areas.

According to BNDES, standardising monitoring methods
is crucial to addressing the lack of integration that
currently benefits organised crime, reinforcing ACTO’s
role in protecting a 6.7 million sq.km biome that is
essential for continental climate regulation.

See https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/meio-
ambiente/noticia/2025-11/cop30-paises-amazonicos-anunciam-
monitoramento-conjunto-da-floresta

Export update
In October 2025 Brazilian exports of wood-based products
(except pulp and paper) decreased 2% in value compared
to October 2024, from US$263.7 million to US$257.3
million.

Pine sawnwood exports increased 13% in value between
October 2024 (US$50.1 million) and October 2025
(US$56.8 million). In volume exports increased 27% over
the same period, from 206,500 cu.m to 261,300 cu.m.

Tropical sawnwood exports increased 32% in volume
from 21,700 cu.m in October 2024 to 28,700 cu.m in
October 2025. In value exports increased 52% from
US$8.7 million to US$13.2 million over the same period.

Pine plywood exports decreased 25% in value in October
2025 compared to October 2024, from US$57.2 million to
US$42.9 million. In volume exports decreased 16% over
the same period, from 169,100 cu.m to 142,600 cu.m.

Tropical plywood, exports increased 14% in volume from
2,100 cu.m in October 2024 to 2,400 cu.m and in October
2025. The value remained at US$1.2 million in the period
analysed.

As for wooden furniture, the exported value remained at
US$48.2 million in October 2025.

BNDES continues to invest in Brazil’s forest sector
The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) has
consolidated the largest investment in its history in the
forestry sector, allocating R$7 billion since 2023 for
conservation, restoration and sustainable forest
management across all the country’s biomes. The results
include 280 million trees planted, 168,000 hectares
restored, 70,000 jobs created and 54 million tonnes of CO₂
captured reinforcing Brazil’s role in forest restoration and
the bio-economy of native species.

These advances are driven by the BNDES Florestas
platform which integrates credit, guarantees, reimbursable
and non-reimbursable instruments and programmes such
as Floresta Viva, Arco da Restauração, Restaura
Amazônia, BNDES Florestas Inovação and ProFloresta+.
The bank also leverages credit lines under the Climate
Fund which alone has provided R$1.9 billion in loans and
leveraged R$5.7 billion in private investment.

In the Amazon, the Restoration Arc (Arco da Restauração)
programme launched in partnership with the Ministry of
the Environment and Climate Change (MMA) at COP28
has already mobilised R$2.4 billion, with emphasis on the
“Restore Amazônia” initiative which is investing R$500
million in agroforestry systems and restoration of
degraded areas benefiting indigenous lands, rural
settlements and protected areas.

The innovation agenda is also advancing, with R$30.8
million directed toward the development of silviculture
technologies for native species.

BNDES initiatives operate in an integrated manner,
linking nurseries, seed networks and carbon contracts to
build scale and financial sustainability. Through these
actions BNDES is strengthening its role as a central agent
of Brazil’s ecological transition, demonstrating that forest
restoration is a strategic solution for carbon capture,
biodiversity conservation, income generation and
community empowerment.

See: https://www.maisfloresta.com.br/bndes-mobiliza-r-7-
bilhoes-para-o-setor-florestal-o-maior-investimento-da-historia-
do-banco-em-florestas/

Impact of US tariffs on Brazil’s wood product exports
Brazilian exports of wood products to the US fell by 55%
in the first three months following the 50% tariff imposed
by the US according to an analysis by the Brazilian
Association of Mechanically-Processed Timber Industry
(ABIMCI) based on SECEX/MDIC data. Between August
and October, there was a sharp decline in the volume
shipped to the US, the main market for items such as
mouldings, plywood, sawnwood and doors.

The drop in sales has meant companies had to introduce
operational shutdowns, reduced production and had to
resort to layoffs and dismissals reflecting four consecutive
months of export contraction since the measure was
announced in July.

ABIMCI warned that, without progress in negotiations
between Brazil and the United States, the situation is
likely to worsen. The Association notes that delays in
diplomatic discussions increase the risk that Brazilian
products will be replaced in the US market by suppliers
from countries with lower tariffs.

See: https://abimci.com.br/exportacoes-de-madeira-para-eua-
caem-em-media-55-em-tres-meses-de-taxacao/



Export prices
Average FOB prices Belém/PA, Paranaguá/PR,
Navegantes/SC and Itajaí/SC Ports.

 

Through the eyes of industry
The latest GTI report lists the challenges identified by the
private sector in Brazil.

See: chrome-
extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.itto-
ggsc.org/static/upload/file/20251119/1763515845482749.pdf

9. PERU

  Primary product exports disappoint in first nine
months
Export shipments of wood products earned US$49.9
million during the first nine months of 2025 a 22%
decrease compared to the same period in 2024 according
to the Center for Research on Global Economics and
Business of the Association of Exporters (CIEN-ADEX).

Figures from the ADEX Data Trade Business Intelligence
System report exports included sawn timber (US$18.2
million), semi-finished products (US$17.1 million),
fuelwood and charcoal (US$4.4 million), furniture and
furniture parts (US$3.5 million) and construction products
(US$3.1 million).

The leading destination was the Dominican Republic at
US$8.4 million, a 1% increase compared to the previous
year. The US followed with US$7.6 million, a decrease of
24% compared to 2024, France with US$6.8 million, a
decrease of 35%, China with US$5.3 million, a decrease
of 40% and rounding out the top five export destinations
was Mexico with sales of US$4.9 million, a decrease of
36%.

Exports of furniture and furniture parts increased
According to information provided by ADEX shipments
of furniture and furniture parts during the period January-
September 2025 reached a FOB export value of US$3.5
million, a positive change compared to the same period in
2024, which was US$3.4 million.

The main market for exports of furniture and parts was the
United States which accounted for 56% of exports and a
positive trend of 1% compared to the same period in 2024
followed by Antigua and Barbuda with 9%. Italy ranked
third with 7%, Chile 6% and the Dominican Republic 5%.

Expo Forestal 2025 closes with US$2.2 million in sales
Expo Forestal Perú 2025, organised by the Ministry of
Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) through
the National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor) and its
Sustainable Productive Forests Program (BPS) concluded
with preliminary sales commitments valued at
approximately US$2.2 million.

The projections correspond to the purchase of
approximately 100,000 cubic meters of standing pine and
eucalyptus timber.

One of the main events was the business matchmaking
event where more than 30 meetings took place between
producers supported by the BPS (Social Security Bank)
and potential timber buyers.

Field visits, technical meetings and reviews of preliminary
agreements were concluded. A visit from investors and
authorities from Ecuador was confirmed for January 2026
and new channels of dialogue were initiated with
sustainable investment funds such as Green Capital
Partners.

See:https://www.gob.pe/institucion/serfor/noticias/1292170-
midagri-expo-forestal-2025-cierra-con-proyecciones-
comerciales-por-us-2-2-millones-en-plantaciones-de-pino-y-
eucalipto

Consolidating latest approaches to sustainable forest
management
The National Forest and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) and
the World Bank conducted a high-level technical mission
in Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, to identify new
opportunities for technical and financial cooperation
aimed at consolidating a new forest management model in
the country.

The event brought together senior management from
SERFOR, the World Bank and business leaders investing
in the forestry sector witnessing first-hand the potential of
a sector moving toward a new era of forestry based on
legality and the responsible management of forests.

See: https://www.gob.pe/institucion/serfor/noticias/1298157-
serfor-y-banco-mundial-fortalecen-cooperacion-para-consolidar-
una-gestion-forestal-moderna-y-sostenible