Looking at factors behind the sales trends, European importers earlier reported supply issues out of Asia due to an extended 2017/18 rainy season, with bangkirai decking, meranti and keruing all affected, although judging by the figures, importers have played catch up since.

Issues in Cameroon, however, are ongoing. The underinvested port of Douala remains a persistent bottleneck and conflict between the francophone Cameroon government and Anglophone rebels in the southwest of the country is also impacting supply.