African tropical timber trade slows as buyers delay purchases

       Timber market activity in West and Central Africa remains broadly stable, with no major changes in supply or production levels, but growing geopolitical uncertainty is weighing on forward business. Tensions linked to the Middle East are increasingly influencing buying behaviour. The region remains a key outlet for timber exports, both for direct consumption in markets such as Dubai, Qatar and the UAE, and as a redistribution hub for Iraq and Iran. Current conditions are leading to greater caution among buyers, with hesitation in placing new orders and a more short-term purchasing ...