Ask three people what a cubic metre of Cameroonian sapelli costs, and you’ll get three very different numbers.
An exporter will quote a FOB price in euros. A builder in Douala will quote a local price in FCFA per cubic metre. And an online supplier will quote an asking price in dollars or euros that may bear little relation to either.
They aren’t all wrong. They’re measuring different things.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- What the main Cameroonian timber species cost on the export market, in euros and FCFA
- How prices moved between January and September 2026
- What builders and carpenters pay locally
- How Cameroon’s log export rules are reshaping the market
- 7 ways to buy (or sell) timber without getting burned
Let’s dive in.
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Read This First: What the Numbers Mean
The most reliable benchmark for African tropical timber is ITTO’s Tropical Timber Market Report. It publishes FOB prices for species traded from Central and West Africa. That includes Cameroon’s main export species, but it’s a regional price list, not a Cameroon-only one.
I’ve combined it with Cameroon-specific data (export statistics, policy changes, local market prices). I flag the source type each time.
Two quick terms:
- FOB (free on board): the price at the port, with the timber loaded on the ship.
- Logs vs. sawnwood: logs are the raw timber. Sawnwood has been cut into boards or beams, and sells for much more per cubic metre.
Summary: Cameroon Timber Prices in 2026
- Cheapest export species: niové (€160/m³ as logs), movingui, ayous (€220/m³).
- Mid-range workhorses: sapele(li) logs at €250/m³, sawnwood at €550/m³ (about 361,000 FCFA).
- Premium species: iroko sawnwood at €870/m³, padouk at €900/m³.
- Local market guide price: about 250,000 to 400,000 FCFA per m³ for structural beams (7×15 cm).
- Policy shift: Cameroon now bans log exports for 91 species, and a full CEMAC ban is planned for 1 January 2028.
- Pressure points: freight costs, European compliance rules, and tight azobé supply.
Export Prices by Species (September 2026)
Here are the latest ITTO reference prices (1 to 15 September 2026), with my conversion into FCFA. The FCFA is pegged to the euro at 655.957, so the conversion is straightforward.
| Species | Log FOB (€/m³, LM grade) | Sawnwood FOB (€/m³) | Sawnwood ≈ FCFA/m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayous (obeche/wawa) | 220 | 440 | 289,000 |
| Sapele(li) | 250 | 550 | 361,000 |
| Iroko | 270 | 870 | 571,000 |
| Padouk | 300 | 900 | 590,000 |
| Moabi | 260 | 580 | 380,000 |
| Sipo / Utile | 250 | 540 (sipo) | 354,000 |
| Bilinga | 240 | 700 | 459,000 |
| Movingui | 180 | 460 | 302,000 |
| Khaya (African mahogany) | 220 | 420 | 275,000 |
| Azobé / Ekki | 250 | n/a | n/a |
| Tali | 270 | n/a | n/a |
| Okan | 240 | n/a | n/a |
| Niové | 160 | n/a | n/a |
FCFA conversions are mine. Sawnwood prices are for FAS grade; sapele is “Spanish sizes,” ayous/iroko/padouk/bilinga are “GMS.”
The source: ITTO’s report lists log prices of 220 for ayous, 270 for iroko, 250 for azobé and ekki, 260 for moabi, 300 for padouk, 250 for sapele, 250 for sipo and utile, and 270 for tali (euro per cubic metre, FOB, top grades). The same report gives sawnwood FOB prices of 440 for ayous, 700 for bilinga, 540 for sipo, 900 for padouk, 550 for sapele, 870 for iroko, 420 for khaya, 580 for moabi and 460 for movingui.
A few things stand out:
1. Sawing roughly doubles the value. Ayous goes from €220 as a log to €440 sawn. Iroko goes from €270 to €870, about 3.2 times higher. (Calculation is mine.) That’s the economic logic behind Cameroon’s push for local processing.
2. Iroko and padouk are the premium species. Iroko (often called “African teak”) and padouk both sell for roughly €870 to €900 per m³ as sawnwood, about double ayous and sapele.
3. Grades matter. ITTO lists several log grades. For example, padouk logs are priced at 300 for the top grade, 280 for the second and 200 for the lowest. Always ask which grade a quote refers to.
The Main Species, Explained
Ayous (obeche, wawa): the budget option. Pale, light and easy to work, it’s mostly used for formwork, plywood and interior joinery. Local guides rank it as the cheapest of the common species.
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Sapele(li): the all-rounder. It’s used for doors, furniture and flooring. At €550/m³ sawn, it sits in the middle of the price range.
Iroko: dense, durable and resistant to moisture and insects. It commands a premium for joinery and flooring. A Cameroon joiner’s price guide, for instance, shows a large iroko kitchen costing more than 1.5 million FCFA, against about 400,000 FCFA for a small ayous one (these are the joiner’s own estimates).
Azobé (ekki): the heavy-duty structural species, used for marine works, bridges and heavy construction. It’s one to watch. Many concessionaires are entering their second harvest cycle, and in eastern Cameroon the volume of mature azobé left to harvest appears lower than in the first cycle. New demand has also been reported from Jeddah for heavy-section azobé, which could tighten volumes for Dutch and Belgian buyers.
Padouk: the red timber prized for furniture and decorative work. Vietnamese demand for tali, niové and padouk continues to help maintain sawmill activity.
How Prices Moved in 2026
Prices rose modestly between January and September. Here are the changes for selected species, comparing ITTO’s 16 to 31 January report with 1 to 15 September:
| Product | Late Jan 2026 | Mid-Sep 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapele logs (€/m³) | 230 | 250 | +8.7% |
| Padouk logs (€/m³) | 280 | 300 | +7.1% |
| Okan logs (€/m³) | 210 | 240 | +14.3% |
| Moabi logs (€/m³) | 260 | 260 | flat |
| Sapele sawn (€/m³) | 530 | 550 | +3.8% |
| Iroko sawn (€/m³) | 850 | 870 | +2.4% |
| Ayous sawn (€/m³) | 440 | 440 | flat |
Percentage changes are mine. Sources: the late-January report (sapele logs at 230, padouk at 280, okan at 210; sawnwood at 440 ayous, 530 sapele, 850 iroko) and the September report above.
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The okan jump is the most interesting. In June, ITTO noted that buyers were increasingly evaluating substitute species such as okan, mukulungu and obonga. When a favoured species tightens, demand (and prices) move to the alternatives.
Local Market Prices in Cameroon
Local timber prices are quoted differently, usually per cubic metre or per piece. I found two sources.
Per cubic metre (2026 guide)
A 2026 construction guide gives these indicative local prices:
- Structural beams (madriers) 7×15 cm, 3 or 4 m: 250,000 to 400,000 FCFA per m³.
- Joinery boards 2.5×15 cm, 3 or 4 m: 200,000 to 350,000 FCFA per m³.
- Formwork plywood, 18 mm (2.44×1.22 m): 25,000 to 40,000 FCFA per panel.
The guide also ranks species by relative price: azobé very high, iroko and sapelli high, “bois rouge” medium, ayous low.
How does that compare with export prices? The beam range (250,000 to 400,000 FCFA) brackets the FOB sawnwood equivalents of ayous (about 289,000) and sapele (about 361,000). (Comparison is mine, and local specs, species and grades are not stated, so treat it as rough.)
Per piece (legal sawnwood)
A forestry project leaflet lists indicative prices for legally sourced sawnwood by piece. It isn’t dated, so use it as a guide to relative prices, not current ones:
- Formwork board (5 m × 30 cm × 3 cm): ayous from community forests 2,800 FCFA, fraké 2,700, fromager 2,500.
- Batten (5 m × 8 cm × 4 cm): sapelli from a forest management unit (UFA) 1,600 FCFA, ayous offcuts 1,300.
- Rafter (chevron), sapelli 5 m × 8 cm × 4 cm (UFA): 3,500 FCFA.
- Plank (2.2 m × 40 cm × 5 cm): 3,000 FCFA for both dibétou and iroko offcuts.
The leaflet’s per-piece prices convert to much lower per-m³ values than the 2026 guide, which suggests they’re older or reflect rough offcuts. That’s why I’m flagging the date issue.
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Supplier asking prices
Online supplier listings show higher asking prices than ITTO’s FOB reference. For example, listings include Cameroonian iroko lumber at 720 EUR/m³ (100×200×3000 mm) and sapelli KD S4S at 900 EUR/m³, while some ayous listings are at 190 to 312 USD/m³. These are asking prices, not transactions, and they vary with dimensions, drying and treatment.
Cameroon’s Export Picture and the Log Ban
Understanding the policy explains much of the price behaviour.
The rules
- By an order dated 28 April 2026, the Minister of Forests and Wildlife updated the classification of species exportable as logs, banning 15 more and bringing the total to 91.
- Ministers meeting in Bangui in February 2024 adopted a schedule leading to a total ban on log exports on 1 January 2028.
- The export duty on logs rose from 17.5% to 75% of FOB value between 2017 and 2024.
- The President has asked that the list of 91 banned species be extended again in the 2027 budget.
The results
Cameroon exported 349,611 m³ of logs in 2025, down 26.5% from 475,401 m³ in 2024 and the lowest since at least 2021, when exports were 958,323 m³. Sawnwood exports fell 14.9% to 762,007 m³, from 895,572 m³.
The value side: log export value fell from 47.4 billion FCFA in 2024 to 39 billion in 2025. Sawnwood exports were worth 157.6 billion FCFA in 2025.
Average export values (my calculation)
Dividing value by volume gives rough averages:
- Logs: 39 billion ÷ 349,611 m³ ≈ 111,500 FCFA/m³ (about €170)
- Sawnwood: 157.6 billion ÷ 762,007 m³ ≈ 206,800 FCFA/m³ (about €315)
Both are well below the FOB prices for top species. That’s because Cameroon exports a mix that includes cheaper species and lower grades. Treat the ITTO prices as prices for specific species and grades, not as the national average.
Processing capacity
Cameroon wants more local processing. MAGZI has allocated 224 hectares across two specialised industrial zones in the Eastern Region, Doumé-Bonis (104 hectares) and Mandjo Kano (120 hectares). But progress on investment has been slow, as many local operators lack the technical and financial resources to move into secondary and tertiary processing such as furniture or finished panels.
What’s Driving Timber Prices Right Now
1. Freight costs. Importers face sharply higher freight costs, with reported increases of about €100 per cubic metre on some routes to Europe, linked to wider oil-market pressures. That’s a large jump against sawnwood prices of €420 to €900.
2. Weak European demand and compliance costs. European demand remains generally subdued, and Dutch enforcement of EU timber rules is reported to be strict, with provisional fines of about €200,000 reported where documentation was considered insufficient. Traceability documents are now part of the price.
3. Shifting demand. Chinese okoumé purchasing is beginning to weaken, the Middle East is also weakening, and producers are diversifying toward South America, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
4. Supply constraints. Azobé is the clearest case, but the log export restrictions also reduce the log supply available for export and shift volumes toward local sawmills.
5. Stocks and seasons. Mills hold two to three months of log stocks, so there’s no immediate supply concern. The main issue to monitor is the return of heavier rains and their effect on harvesting and road transport.
7 Ways to Buy or Sell Cameroonian Timber Smartly
1. Always specify species, grade, dimensions and drying.
A “sapelli at 900 EUR/m³” and a “sapele at 250 EUR/m³” may both be accurate. One is kiln-dried, surfaced sawnwood, the other a log.
2. Compare FOB, delivered and local prices separately.
Don’t compare a euro FOB price with a FCFA local price without converting (655.957 FCFA per euro) and adding freight, taxes and handling.
3. Budget for freight swings.
A rise of about €100 per m³ can erase a 20% price advantage on a €500 product.
4. Ask for legality documents upfront.
For export, traceability affects both access and price. For local buying, ask for proof of origin, especially when prices look unusually low.
5. Consider alternative species.
When sapelli, iroko or azobé tighten, species like okan and dabema are being considered. In a local build, ask your carpenter whether a cheaper species suits non-structural use.
6. Match species to the job.
Ayous suits formwork and interior joinery, not wet exteriors. Iroko and azobé suit demanding uses. Paying for durability you don’t need is the most common waste.
7. Track policy announcements.
The log-ban list may grow again. If you export logs, check the latest MINFOF order before signing contracts.
FAQ: Cameroon Timber Prices
How much does a cubic metre of timber cost in Cameroon?
Locally, roughly 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA per m³ for common sawn products such as beams and boards, according to a 2026 guide. On the export market, FOB sawnwood runs from about €420 to €900 per m³ (about 275,000 to 590,000 FCFA) for the main species.
What is the most expensive Cameroonian timber?
Among those with published prices, padouk (€900/m³ sawn) and iroko (€870/m³) are the most expensive. Assamela is higher still at €1,400.
What is the cheapest?
Niové at €160/m³ as logs, and ayous at €220/m³ as logs and €440/m³ sawn.
Is Cameroon banning log exports?
Yes, in stages. 91 species are already banned as logs, and a full CEMAC ban is scheduled for 1 January 2028.
Why are log exports falling?
The export duty on logs rose from 17.5% to 75% of FOB value, and the species ban list has grown.
Where does Cameroon timber go?
The ITTO report highlights China, Vietnam, the Philippines, the Netherlands and Belgium, with Middle Eastern and South American demand emerging.
What is the FOB price of sapele?
€250 per m³ for logs and €550 per m³ for FAS sawnwood in September 2026 (ITTO regional prices).
Final Thoughts
The bottom line: Cameroonian timber prices run from roughly €160 per m³ for cheap logs to €900 for premium sawnwood, and the species, grade and form you buy matter far more than any single headline price.
If you do one thing this week, write down the exact species, grade, dimensions and delivery terms behind every quote you get. Two prices only compare when those details match.
Sources
- ITTO, Tropical Timber Market Report, Vol. 30 No. 17 (1 to 15 September 2026); No. 2 (16 to 31 January 2026); No. 12 (16 to 30 June 2026): itto.int
- Investir au Cameroun, “Bois : le Cameroun interdit l’exportation en grumes de 15 nouvelles essences, portant le total à 91” (2026)
- Investir au Cameroun, “Budget 2027 : Paul Biya demande d’étendre encore la liste des 91 essences interdites d’exportation en grumes”
- Business & Finance International, “Le Cameroun envisage d’élargir l’interdiction d’exportation de grumes”
- Africtelegraph, “Bois : les exportations du Cameroun au plus bas sur cinq ans en 2025” and “Bois : le Cameroun interdit l’export de 15 nouvelles essences en grumes”
- La Voix des Entreprises, “Industrie du bois : le Cameroun accélère sa stratégie de transformation locale” (May 2026)
- SeConstruire, “Prix du bois et des planches de charpente au Cameroun en 2026”
- CIFOR, legal timber price leaflet (undated)
- Lesprom, Cameroon sawn timber supplier listings
- FDK Bois, “Cuisine bois massif Cameroun”
