54 | Feature: Rougier
SUMMARY
■ Rougier established its African operations in 1953
■ Four years ago it established a partnership with Gabonese plywood producer Starply
■ Rougier is a pioneer of FSC certification in the Congo Basin
■ A moulding line at the Mokabi sawmill will process mukulungu and tali into decking
TROPICAL TIMBER’S SUSTAINABLE POTENTIAL
Rougier, one of the best-known names in the international tropical timber trade, continues to invest, diversify its markets and further reinforce its sustainability credentials. Mike Jeffree reports
Tropical timber and wood products specialist Rougier has passed many significant milestones in its 102 years of operation. Most recently its mill in the Republic of Congo has received a certificate from a third-party sustainability auditor and consultant as having taken the appropriate steps to meet the requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which comes into force at the end of 2025.
Another major development is also now in prospect, with the anticipated FSC certification of the nearly 600,000ha of forest managed by its Mokabi SA subsidiary in the Republic of the Congo Brazzaville (RoC). France-based Rougier established its African operations, starting in Gabon, in 1953. The company also developed businesses in Cameroon and Central African Republic, however six years ago divested these to focus on its core interests in Gabon and Republic of Congo. Today in Gabon, it manages around 900,000ha of forest and operates a sawmill in Franceville, called Mbouma, which is a major supplier of okoumé logs locally and sawn timber on international markets, principally again of okoumé.
Above: Felling in Rougier forest concessions is done under a strict low impact procedure
TTJ | March/April 2025 |
www.ttjonline.com
It previously also operated its own veneer and plywood plant in the country. “But four years ago, due to the time and cost that we estimated would have been required to upgrade these facilities to the
standard we required into the future, we opted to sell the factory,” said Jeroen Hofenk, Rougier head of sales for northern Europe, Malaysia/Indonesia/South Korea, Israel, Lebanon and North America.
“Instead, we established a partnership with Gabonese plywood producer Starply. This entails Rougier supplying the company with okoumé from our concessions, and Starply selling the resulting plywood worldwide under its brand.”
The relationship between the two companies in operational terms is close. “Rougier has its own quality management team working within the Starply production unit undertaking quality control on a daily basis. Our sales staff also visit on a regular basis as, about eight times a year our former director in Gabon does to oversee production and general operations,” said Mr Hofenk. “It’s been a successful, mutually beneficial partnership. Rougier also undertakes sales and marketing of Starply okoumé plywood, mainly in European markets, and we’re seeing growing awareness of the brand and increasing sales in Europe and worldwide. Starply is now, for instance, the biggest supplier of okoumé plywood in Belgium and the Netherlands.”
Starply is certified under the Dutch- based Komo scheme, which assesses to an internationally recognised quality standard that provides guarantees for both the supply
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69
