Prices remained largely unchanged in the second half of August while markets were quiet during the last part of the summer holiday. Only bomanga logs (Brachystegia laurentii) showed some signs of increased demand for Far East destinations. China had increased its purchases of sawn lumber from Gabon and Cameroon, especially okoume, okan and lots of shorts, strips and squares for flooring manufacture. Demand for India was also steady, particularly for belli, padouk and, of course, teak. The price increases reported at the end of July had held firm. In contrast, export from Congo and Central Africa Republic consisted mainly of logs and limited volumes of sawnwood and other processed products. Heavy rains were affecting logging in Cameroon, where producers continued to focus on production of sawnwood and further processed timber as part of the successful downstream policy introduced some years ago, which was being emulated by Gabon. (Source: Fordaq)