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and demand sides of the building industry. Rougier has also developed its sales of


okoumé logs more broadly to Gabon’s growing domestic timber market and evolving wood processing sector. In particular, it supplies logs to businesses in the Gabon Special Economic Zone in Nkok. This was set up in 2010 in conjunction with the introduction of a ban on log exports, with the stated aim “to foster local timber processing, industrial production, and the sustainable use of Gabon’s natural resources, primarily timber, for local and export markets”. A public-private partnership between government and Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms, its administrative and fiscal status facilitates establishment of businesses by national and international investors.


“The zone today is home to a large percentage of Gabon’s wood processing and manufacturing capacity, with companies supplying secondary and tertiary processed products,” said Mr Hofenk.


In Republic of Congo, Rougier’s Mokabi SA subsidiary mill is currently processing around 100,000m3


production for export and domestic markets of 40,000m3


of logs annually, with sawn .


Between the two countries, Rougier is a leading player in kiln dried timber, operating six 200m3


sawmill site and 16 100m3


kilns in Gabon at the Mbouma capacity units


in Republic of Congo at the Mokabi mill. In Gabon, it also partners with independent sawmills to process certain species. “In particular, we work with approved third-party mills to process heavy-duty timbers, notably okan and padouk,” said Mr Hofenk. “Due to their density, they require heavy duty machinery and given the large length lumber the market demands, they need long production lines. Our third-party partners are equipped to handle them.” Rougier is a pioneer of FSC certification in the Congo Basin, with its first concessions in Gabon achieving accreditation over 20 years and its certification in the country today covering its two mills and four concessions, totalling 895,000ha. In the forest this requires


a harvesting regime of just one or two trees per ha on a 30-year cycle.


The concessions managed by Mokabi


SA in the Republic of Congo are currently accredited under the Legal Source scheme of international forest sustainability and legality auditors and certifiers Preferred by Nature (formerly NepCON). Rougier is excited at the prospect of the entire concession area and Mokabi’s facilities achieving FSC certification. “Our second audit takes place in May and the hope is that in the third quarter of 2025 the certification process will be complete,” said Mr Hofenk. “It will take our certified forest area across the two countries to 1,481,000ha, making the company the largest certified forest operator in the Congo Basin.” The latest accreditation awarded the Mokabi SA mill forestry operations by Preferred by Nature (PbN) states that it is certified for the scope of Land Management; Chain of Custody and that this certification is aligned with the requirements of the EUDR. PbN describes itself as a specialist “in supporting organisations to address sustainability and sourcing challenges in line with market and regulatory requirements, including the EUDR”. “Currently, we are working with companies and organisations of different sizes and roles within supply chains to assist them in navigating and aligning practices with the Regulation’s requirements,” it says. In a statement, Rougier said: “Supported by a robust CSR policy, this certification underscores the traceability and geolocation of our wood products. It reassures end- customers that Rougier Congo’s wood is both deforestation-free and produced with respect for the rights of local communities.” The company also regards this PbN certificate as complementary to its FSC certification. “We’re underlining that we have the satellite imagery and geolocation data from both RoC and Gabon required by the EUDR to demonstrate there is no deforestation in our concessions,” said Mr Hofenk. “At the same time, we see continuing and growing demand for FSC-certified timber.”


Further plans to develop the business include installation of a moulding line at the Mokabi sawmill to process mukulungu and tali into decking.


“It’s another step to enable us to add value and we can also be more competitive if we process at source,” said Mr Hofenk. He added that Rougier also has plans to move into laminated engineered timbers. “But at the moment we sell our shorts to manufacturers in Indonesia and Malaysia to make these products,” he said. The company is also further developing


markets, including the UK and Ireland, for the wider range of timber it offers – and on its website (www.rougier.fr/en) it lists 31 species, from aiele and alep, through doussie and ekaba, to padouk, pao rosa and tali. “The UK and Ireland are important markets for us, particularly for sipo and sapele, with most customers buying kiln-dried, but also some taking air-dried,” said Mr Hofenk. “We find the UK quite a conventional, traditional market, but we are engaging with customers to offer a wider species selection, similar to that we sell on the European continent and to some of the 50 other national markets we supply. In a slow market, people are perhaps more reluctant to introduce something a bit different, but maybe that’s actually the best time to try it.” Going forward, he added, Rougier is optimistic, but at the same time realistic. “Key objectives are of course to be sustainable, to make the most of the resource and benefit local communities. Having our own forest and maintaining it is always our central goal,” said Mr Hofenk. “As far as the market is concerned, our aim is to supply sustainable certified timber at a fair price. We should all be working together to realise the opportunity to sell FSC at the value it justifies. We have to meet rising costs of production, with the cost of fuel to operate our kilns recently being a key challenge. We should get away from treating sapele, for example, as a commodity and manoeuvring all the time to turn down the price. It can be done and would create a better future for everyone.” ■


Above left: Rougier Preferred by Nature certified sapele at the Mokabi mill Above right: Bundles of Starply Rougier okoumé Komo and FSC-certified plywood from Gabon www.ttjonline.com | March/April 2025 | TTJ


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