Monday, January 12, 2026
The international timber market showed a stark contrast in performance in November 2025, with Ghana emerging as a lone beacon of expansion. According to the latest Global Timber Index (GTI) Report—an ITTO-supported framework tracking pilot countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America—Ghana’s timber sector reached a robust 60.0%. This marks several consecutive months that Ghana has remained above the critical 50% threshold, signaling consistent growth. In contrast, most other monitored nations remained in contraction territory, though several major players are showing signs of imminent stabilisation.
While Ghana led the pack, other major timber-producing nations hovered just below the growth line. The GTI readings for China (49.6%), the Republic of the Congo (49.6%), Brazil (49.5%), and Indonesia (49.1%) suggest a “wait-and-see” phase, where sectors are stabilising despite ongoing global economic pressures.
Conversely, deep downturns were noted in Malaysia (33.2%) and Gabon (30.2%), where industry challenges remain acute.
National sub-indexes reveal a complex supply-side story. While Indonesia, Brazil, and China reported a month-on-month rise in new orders, the actual procurement of raw materials is becoming a bottleneck.
Active Performance: Ghana and Brazil both saw growth in harvesting and production.
Supply strain: Raw material inventories have declined for several months in Malaysia, Thailand, and Mexico, indicating a tightening log supply that could pressure future production costs.
Specializsed indices: The GTI-Producers Index (48.5%) and the GTI-Wood-based Panel Index (47.2%) both stayed below the 50% mark, reflecting a broader cooling in secondary processing.
November 2025 was a pivotal month for trade regulations. In a move that crucially shifts the Asian import landscape, China’s General Administration of Customs resumed log imports from the United States on November 10. This ends an eight-month suspension and introduces a major new supply variable into the Chinese market.
Meanwhile, in West Africa, Gabon’s transitional Senate approved the 2026 Finance Bill. The legislation introduces a tiered export tax system designed to incentivise domestic processing:
Sustainability remains at the heart of the industry’s long-term strategy. The GTI report spotlighted Indonesia’s landmark commitment to match Brazil’s USD 1 billion contribution to the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF). Launched during COP30 in Belém, this facility aims to mobilise USD 125 billion to reward nations for keeping their tropical forests standing.
Additional progress was noted in the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) and Ecuador’s continued implementation of national REDD+ policies, ensuring that as the industry stabilises, it does so within a framework of environmental accountability.
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Tags: Gabon timber export tax 2026, Ghana timber industry growth, Global Timber Index November 2025, ITTO GTI Report, sustainable forest management, Tropical Forest Forever Facility
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