Sawnwood prices stable in West Africa
Sawn lumber prices didn't register any significant change in West Africa during May. It is noted that demand is tending to move away from the established species such as sapele and sipo towards a wider variety of more recently popular timbers including bosse, doussie movingui and moabi.
There is fast increasing demand for okan as an alternative to azobe as well as a recent well recognized substitute for ekki, for the very brisk railway sleeper business.
Reports from exporters continue to mention a problem in Italy related to large volumes of ayous sawn lumber which were spray treated before shipment with a compound apparently containing a dioxin. Currently, arguments are centered on whether or not the timber should be used or burned.
Some sprayed logs may still be in the supply chain, analysts say, a fact which will cause more problems on arrival in Italy. Producers in W. Africa say they have now changed over to a spray authorized by the Italian authorities.
There is fast increasing demand for okan as an alternative to azobe as well as a recent well recognized substitute for ekki, for the very brisk railway sleeper business.
Reports from exporters continue to mention a problem in Italy related to large volumes of ayous sawn lumber which were spray treated before shipment with a compound apparently containing a dioxin. Currently, arguments are centered on whether or not the timber should be used or burned.
Some sprayed logs may still be in the supply chain, analysts say, a fact which will cause more problems on arrival in Italy. Producers in W. Africa say they have now changed over to a spray authorized by the Italian authorities.