Timber exports escalate at Walvis

A total of 69 290 tonnes of timber was exported through the port of Walvis Bay between November 2018 and December last year, NamPort has confirmed. It said 73% of this timber originated from Zambia, 13% from Namibia, with the remainder (12%) originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola. The bulk of this timber was destined for China (73%) and Vietnam (31%), while smaller amounts were exported to Saudi Arabia, Germany and Greece. NamPort said the timber was inspected by officials of the ministry of environment and tourism and customs officials. “Timber consignments are trucked into the port several days before ships' arrivals and temporarily stored in our container terminal awaiting shipment,” said NamPort acting CEO Raymond Visagie. The average storage time is about eight days. The loads of timber still being transported by road to Walvis Bay have once again caused an outcry from Namibians – and regional visitors – who have expressed fears that illegal harvesting of precious Namibian hardwood species continues unabated despite a moratorium on harvesting in place since 26 November 2018. A ban on the transportation of timber was imposed from 13 January to 28 February this year. The ensuing rush to get the timber to port has caused a stir. On 20 January, one member of the public posted on social media: “Counted 7, yes seven of these trucks loaded with wood in 30 minutes in Walvis Bay!” Another wrote: “The plundering of Namibia's resources continues at an unprecedented rate as we start to bleed to death as other nations suck us dry.” But some farmers in the Kavango East and Kavango West regions, where much of the illegal logging has taken place, insist that the timber now being transported had been stockpiled before the moratorium took effect. They insist that no freshly cut trees are on these trucks. There are said to be “thousands of trees” stockpiled outside Katima Mulilo. These trees are said to have been harvested from the area where the Namibian-Chinese tobacco project of Namibia Oriental Tobacco plans to develop a tobacco farm just west of Katima Mulilo.According to a source at Katima Mulilo, fresh logging, not just on the proposed tobacco farm but also elsewhere, has stopped in the Zambezi Region. The agriculture ministry on 9 December last year announced a resumption of transporting the timber. Percy Misika, executive director of the agriculture ministry, said no fresh trees would be harvested, and that all logs would be loaded in the presence of forestry and environment officials. The ministry said that timber manufacturers would be given first priority to buy the already harvested timber, while the rest would be exported. First preference was also to be given to local processors. Timber that found its way to Walvis Bay without the required documentation would be confiscated, it said. CATHERINE SASMAN

Timber exports escalate at Walvis

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Timber exports escalate at Walvis

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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