As consequence of the political turmoil in Ivory Coast the European Union imposed sanctions against Mr. Laurent Gbagbo and some members of his administration. So far, timber producers in Cote d'Ivoire have managed to continue limited production and exports but there are concerns that the on-going crisis may result in the closure of transport and ports in the country.
According to latest reports, the EU sanctions are already having some effect on Ivory Coast shipments as European importers have begun boycotting imports from the country. Italian buyers who used to purchase iroko from Ivory Coast, are now making enquiries with other producing countries in the region. For the time being, other species are being sourced from existing stocks in the European Union. The overall impact of the sanctions is still difficult to assess in light of the absence of relevant details of the move.