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W. African traders expecting higher log prices, following increases in SE. Asian log prices
¡¾2002.09.09¡¿

Surprisingly, no price changes were observed for W. African logs during August. The Chinese market is still strong but in Europe the markets are still very dull and are expected to remain so for the next week or two. Traders are expecting to see rising log prices, following in the wake of SE. Asian log price trends. It appears West African log exporters have been slow to up prices despite the US$20-30 per cubic metre rise seen in Asian prices.

If the proposed regulations for Indonesian concessions are enforced then we could see very much higher log prices, at last responding to the 'shortage factor.'

Cameroon loggers are still working at low capacity because of the tighter controls on harvest areas. There is a particular shortage of Azobe logs for milling for the traditional Netherlands market.