(Business in Cameroon) - According to the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) sectoral report, for the period from 1st to 15th July 2017, imports of timber to Canada have increased by 5% between April and May 2017, mainly due to the expansion of Cameroonian exports of Sapelli to this North American country.

"The growth in these imports has been entirely due to sawn Sapelli. While American imports of Sapelli were lower, those of Canada have more than doubled from April to May 2017. Cameroon has been the principal source of supply to Canada of Sapelli. The rest of the Sapelli came to Canada through the United States", explained the ITTO in its report of 15 July 2017.

North America, and mainly Canada, thus becomes a new destination for Cameroonian timber, after the European Union and China, who according to NGOs, has become one of the main destinations of Cameroonian timber these last years, as a result of more flexible legislation in the matter of sustainable and illegal logging.

As a reminder, timber, mostly exported  in the form of logs, is the 2nd export product of Cameroon, after crude oil; and ahead of crops such as cocoa or also dessert bananas.

Brice R. Mbodiam

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