Buy Timber Logs from Africa: Export Rules, the 2028 Log Ban and Smarter Options

Many buyers start their search with one simple idea: buy timber logs from Africa and saw them at home. It sounds cheaper and more flexible. In Central Africa today, though, that plan runs into a wall of export rules. Gabon banned log exports years ago, the Republic of Congo followed, Cameroon restricts many species in log form, and the whole Central African region has agreed to end log exports in January 2028.

In this guide we explain where log exports are still possible, what the coming regional ban means, why sawn timber is usually the better buy anyway and how to order large sections that behave like logs for your mill. We export timber from Central Africa at Global Timber Trade Hub and only ship logs where national law allows it.

Why African countries restrict log exports

For decades, much of Central Africa’s timber left the region as raw logs, with most of the value added elsewhere. Governments now want more sawmilling, drying, veneer and plywood production at home, to create jobs and earn more from each tree. Log export bans and high log export taxes are their main tools. They also support better traceability, because processed timber moves through registered mills.

Country by country: where logs can still be bought

Gabon

Gabon has banned the export of raw logs since 2010. Timber from Gabon, including okoume, is exported as sawn timber, veneer and plywood. See our guide to Gabon timber.

Republic of Congo

The Republic of Congo stopped loading raw logs for export at the start of 2023, ahead of the regional deadline. See Congo timber suppliers.

Cameroon

Cameroon has not banned all log exports yet, but it restricts many species in log form and has sharply raised export taxes on logs. For many species, buying sawn timber is now the only practical option. See Cameroon timber exporters.

The wider region

The Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) agreed to ban log exports across its member states. The start date has been postponed several times and is currently set for 1 January 2028. Rules in neighbouring countries outside the bloc differ and change, so always check current regulations before planning a log purchase.

What the 2028 regional ban means for buyers

• log supply from Central Africa will shrink further and may stop for most species;
• more timber will be sawn, dried and processed in the region;
• buyers who depend on logs should plan the switch to sawn timber now;
• specifications, grading and drying will move closer to the forest;
• traceability for EUDR and other rules should improve as more wood passes through registered mills.

Why sawn timber is usually the better buy

Even where logs are available, sawn timber often makes more sense:

• No paying for waste: logs include bark, sapwood and defects you will cut away and still pay to ship.
• Lower freight per usable m³: sawn boards pack more efficiently than round logs.
• Grading before purchase: you buy the grade you need, not a gamble on what is inside the log.
• Drying at source: kiln-dried stock arrives ready to use.
• Simpler phytosanitary rules: logs with bark can face stricter plant health checks.
• Lower legal risk: processed timber from registered mills is easier to trace.

Options that replace logs

Large sawn sections and baulks

Beams up to about 300 × 300 mm and lengths up to about 12 m can feed your own resaw line. See hardwood beams.

Boules

A boule is a log sawn through and then reassembled in sequence, keeping the boards together. It suits furniture makers and instrument makers who want matched grain.

Slabs

Live-edge slabs give the natural look of the log without exporting it whole. See African hardwood slabs.

Veneer and plywood

For panel products, sliced or rotary veneer and plywood are the efficient way to buy African species. See African hardwood veneer.

If you still need logs

Some buyers, such as specialist veneer mills, still look for logs from countries where export remains legal. If you do, check:

• the current national law on log exports for the species and country;
• export taxes and quotas;
• CITES status of the species;
• phytosanitary and fumigation requirements in your country;
• EUDR, Lacey Act or other legality rules at import;
• shipping method, as logs often travel breakbulk or in open-top containers.

We only supply logs where national law allows it, with full legal documents.

Price comparison: logs vs sawn timber

Logs can look cheaper per cubic metre, but the useful yield after sawing is often only around half of the log volume, sometimes less for species with large sapwood or defects. Add freight on the waste, export taxes on logs and the cost of your own sawing and drying, and sawn timber frequently comes out cheaper per cubic metre of usable wood. Compare on cost per usable m³, not per log m³. See African hardwood prices.

How to plan the switch from logs to sawn timber

1. List the products and dimensions your mill produces from logs today.
2. Translate them into sawn sizes, beams or boules we can supply.
3. Agree grades and moisture content.
4. Run a trial container and adjust specifications.
5. Move to a regular supply before the 2028 deadline.

Species most affected by log restrictions

The species most often requested as logs, such as sapele, sipo, iroko, bubinga, padouk and okoume, are exactly those that producer countries want to process locally. Many of them are already unavailable as logs from Gabon and Congo, and restricted in Cameroon. Heavy construction species such as azobe, okan and tali are also increasingly supplied as sawn sections. For CITES species such as padouk, doussie, afrormosia, bubinga and African mahogany, export permits apply to logs and sawn timber alike, so the paperwork does not get easier by buying logs.

What happens to buyers who relied on logs

Veneer mills, sawmills and plywood factories outside Africa that once depended on African logs are adapting in several ways. Some now buy sawn baulks and resaw them to their own sizes. Others buy veneer or semi-finished products from African mills. A few have invested in partnerships or processing capacity in Africa itself. For most buyers, the simplest path is to rework their specifications around sawn timber and work with an exporter who can cut to their list.

Quality advantages of buying processed timber

When timber is sawn and graded near the forest, defects are cut away before shipping and you choose exactly the grade you need. Kiln drying at source reduces weight, lowers freight per cubic metre and prevents stain and insect damage in transit. You also receive photos and moisture readings of the actual boards before loading, which is impossible with a closed log. For many buyers, these benefits outweigh the flexibility of sawing logs themselves.

Phytosanitary rules for logs vs sawn timber

Logs with bark carry a higher risk of pests and diseases, so many importing countries apply stricter plant health rules to them, such as fumigation, debarking or special inspections. Sawn, debarked and especially kiln-dried timber is usually simpler to clear. Check your country’s rules with your plant health authority or customs broker, and read our guide to phytosanitary certificates for timber.

Questions to ask a seller who offers logs

• In which country, and under which permit, were these logs harvested?
• Is log export of this species legal from that country today?
• Which export taxes apply, and are they included in the price?
• Is the species CITES listed, and is a permit included?
• How will the logs be shipped, and what phytosanitary treatment is required?

If the answers are unclear, walk away.

Our honest advice

If your business still depends on African logs, treat 2028 as a firm deadline, even though it has moved before. Start testing sawn alternatives now, while you still have time to adjust your machines, specifications and customers’ expectations. Most buyers who make the switch find that sawn, graded and dried timber from a reliable exporter costs less per usable cubic metre, reduces waste in their yard and makes legality checks far simpler. We are happy to translate your current log specifications into sawn sizes and quote a trial container.

Common mistakes

• Assuming log exports are allowed: check the law for each country and species.
• Comparing log price with sawn price directly: compare cost per usable m³.
• Ignoring export taxes: they can make logs uneconomic.
• Buying from sellers who “can still get logs” from banned countries: that timber is illegal.

Sources

• Wood Central: CEMAC log export ban set for 2028
• Afrik21: Congo log export ban comes into force
• ATIBT for tropical timber trade news.

Related guides

• How to import timber from Africa
• Hardwood beams
• How to choose an African timber exporter
• EUDR timber compliance
• Full African timber catalogue

Frequently asked questions about buying timber logs from Africa

Can I buy logs from Gabon?

No. Gabon has banned raw log exports since 2010. Timber from Gabon is exported as sawn timber, veneer or plywood.

When does the Central African log export ban start?

The regional ban is currently set for 1 January 2028, after several postponements.

Is sawn timber more expensive than logs?

Per usable cubic metre, sawn timber is often cheaper once you count waste, freight and export taxes.

What can replace logs for my sawmill?

Large sawn sections, baulks and boules can feed resaw lines and give you control over final dimensions.

Get a quote for sawn alternatives

Tell us what you produce from logs today through our quote form. We will suggest sawn sizes that fit your mill and reply with a firm price.