11.07.2025
Since January 2023, ATIBT has been implementing the project “Support to the Private Forestry Sector and the Timber Industry in Cameroon for the Green Deal (ASP Cameroon PV)”, fully funded by the European Union (EU) through the EU Delegation to Cameroon.
In this context, various European importers have visited producers in Cameroon.
This funding is provided under the Forest Governance Improvement Program (PAMFOR) set up by the EU and the Government of Cameroon.
As part of this ASP PV project, two actions related to the promotion and marketing of Cameroonian wood products on the markets, particularly the European market, are being implemented.
One action focuses on developing and consolidating trade relations between Cameroonian producers and European importers with the aim of increasing the visibility of Cameroonian companies engaged in good forestry practices among the main European importers and facilitating the creation and/or strengthening of trade links with a view to increasing trade between these actors.
The other action deals with the development of LKTS (Lesser Known Timber Species) with the overall objective of diversifying the species marketed in order to reduce pressure on the most exploited species and support the sustainability and effectiveness of sustainable forest management (among other things), with a view to increasing the share of LKTS sold on European markets.
To this end, trips for European importers are organized and largely financed by the ASP project. During these trips, exchanges between production company managers and importers on the specific concerns and needs of each party are organized with a view to establishing and/or strengthening commercial relations, visits to processing sites and logging sites, export ports, and exchanges with professional associations in the timber industry are held.
The trips are carried out in waves and planned according to the availability and expectations of importers and producers. To maintain the specific and more or less confidential nature of these business exchanges, a consensus has been reached to adopt a one-importer-one-producer approach, i.e., an individual trip per importer and one-on-one meetings between a producer and an importer.
The first trips by importers took place between April and May 2025 and will continue until November 2025. The first wave of trips included Carbon Market, France Timber, Denderwood, and Vandecasteele Houtimport.
The producers visited during this first wave believe that this is an interesting initiative to promote with a view to strengthening sustainable trade links and exchanges between Cameroonian producers and European importers based on good forest management. The CEO of Dino et Fils said, "We are very interested in this type of initiative, which can provide additional motivation to strengthen sustainable management and certification, as the European market remains the most lucrative for us. The opening up of importers and the European market to LKTS, which we have in abundance for certain species in our forests, would be a great help in these times of various internal and external tensions."
Importers who have already made the trip say that these direct exchanges with suppliers give them a better understanding of the situation on the ground, particularly in terms of potential, comparative advantages, constraints, and the local context. This will enable them to better adapt and target their supplies and trade links with the companies visited and also with the country in a context of sustainable development, among other things.
Hicham from Denderwood "Our impressions are very satisfactory overall, as we had positive, professional and high-quality exchanges. We noted that the entities we visited were well organized and that the partners were ‘ready’ for the EUDR. We received explanations of the situation on the ground, which enabled us to understand the daily issues encountered, and had discussions on the areas of work currently being pursued (particularly certification) and on solutions relating to EUDR compliance."
Jasper de Vandecasteele Houtimport said: “Personally, seeing how the companies are set up and talking to the quality and production managers gives a better understanding of the technical possibilities.”
Regarding the positioning of Cameroonian wood products on the European market, Hicham from Denderwood believes that “The advantage for Cameroonian producers will certainly come from PAFC certification.”
At the end of the site visits and discussions with the companies visited, Benoit Gommet of France Timber said he was leaving with a good impression: “They all want to do things right...” However, he believes that the local framework is a burden for companies that want to do things right: "They are subject to a local context that is a real handicap compared to other countries in the region. What a shame, given the dynamism of the Cameroonians.“
Erwan from Carbon Market, who was part of this first wave of trips, believes that: ”this initiative not only enables direct contact between buyers and producers, but above all allows both sides to build trust and discuss issues that are difficult to deal with through intermediaries/brokers."
Buyers and producers indicate that the marketing of LKTS is a growing concern for them and that initiatives, albeit limited, are being launched for certain species with varying degrees of success at present due to several factors affecting the markets and producers. They also indicated that marketing LKTS could be an important lever for ensuring sustainable trade in timber products and effective and viable forest management in the medium term. In this regard, Hicham from Denderwood said, "We are working on trials in real conditions, particularly on decks, with various species. As the season has not been exceptional in terms of sales and stocks of basic species are still available, the market is not yet really open and receptive to considering this on a regular basis. We are continuing to promote these by presenting our results to our customers...."
Regarding his desire to trade in LKTS, Benoit Gommet said that he plans to do so but that it is essential that everyone “plays the game.”
On the marketing of LKTS, Jasper from Vandecasteele Houtimport said that this is one of their concerns and that they are committed to it through concrete initiatives: “We are always trying to promote LKTS, and we currently have around four new projects in the process of being launched on the market.” However, he also noted that: “It is on the demand side that the promotion of LKTS is most effective. To this end, it is important to promote LKTS to architects.”
The analyses and feelings of importers and producers after the first wave of visits to Cameroon show that these trips are beneficial for the parties in terms of developing and strengthening sustainable trade links. However, importers somewhat regretted that the limited duration of the trips did not allow them to meet more potential partners. They hope that this type of trip will continue.
