Core Insights - Cameroon experienced a significant decline in timber export value in Q1 2025, with a decrease of 20 billion CFA francs (approximately 35.3 million USD) compared to the same period in 2024 [1][2] Export Performance - The total export revenue from wood products dropped to 44 billion CFA francs in Q1 2025, down from 54 billion CFA francs in the same quarter of the previous year [1] - Sawn timber export revenue decreased by 8 billion CFA francs, falling from approximately 39 billion CFA francs at the end of March 2024 to 31 billion CFA francs in Q1 2025 [1] - Logs export revenue also saw a reduction of 1 billion CFA francs [1] - Despite stable export volume of plywood at 11,000 tons, the revenue generated was only 3 billion CFA francs in Q1 2025 [1] Contributing Factors - The decline in export performance is attributed to a complex set of factors, including an uncertain economic environment and rising export taxes [2] - Export tariffs on logs increased dramatically from 17.5% to 75% between 2017 and 2024, representing a cumulative increase of over 350% in just seven years [2] - The additional tax burden also affected primary processed products, particularly sawn timber, with export tariffs rising by 165% from 2016 to 2023 [2]