European buyers are now beginning to assess their autumn and winter demand but appear in no rush to place new orders.

Importers in Italy have provided West African shippers with a very stable and steady flow of orders throughout the year in spite of difficult economic conditions in Italy. However, exporters say Italian buyers, are now slightly less active and this has pushed up ayous stocks at sawmills.

A weakening of demand for sapelli and sipo was reported in August and this continues. Exporters in the Republic of Congo are said to be holding moderate and growing stocks of sapelli and sipo sawnwood.