Vietnam’s reliance on African timber could affect exports due to lack of origin verification

Vietnamese timber companies rely on African timber for up to 50% of their production, yet over half of these businesses are unable to verify the origin of the wood they import, according to a recent study. This reliance underscores Africa’s role as a key supplier of tropical hardwoods for Vietnam’s construction, furniture, and raw material markets, but also highlights significant supply chain vulnerabilities. With domestic logging in Vietnam largely banned, African timber fills a vital gap in meeting industry demand for premium hardwoods such as redwood and ironwood. The study shows that African suppliers, particularly from South ...