A lightweight black in color, wood charcoal is a carbon residue produced by heating wood strongly. Wood charcoal is made after all the water, methane, tar, and other volatile constituents are removed from the wood by using minimal oxygen. It contains around 2 times more energy per kg than fuelwood. The production of charcoal can be traced back to the Stone Age for cooking and grilling, and the Bronze Age for the production of metal implements. Back then, the methods of producing wood charcoal were much simpler. People used to simply put the firewood in heaps and then cover it with clay or mud (to allow minimal flow of oxygen). The methods, however, began to become more modernized with continuous evolution. What once used to be a slow and inexpensive charcoal production method has now adopted the advanced retort kiln system, aligning with the precision needed in its contemporary applications. Throughout human evolution, there have been a lot of myths formed around wood charcoal. Let's explore those and understand how much of it is true:
All these myths have been rooted in ancient times, when technologies were not as developed as they are today. But their relevancy and value have increased. Thanks to the current trends in the charcoal production industry, the goal has been shifted towards improving the environmental performance while maintaining the charcoal quality. Now, pre-dried woods are filled in steel vessels and then, they are placed in a ceramic-brick-lined carbonization furnace heated to 900°C. During this process, tars and gases are produced, which are then used to separate high-temperature combustion chambers. This method allows the manufacturers to produce around 1 kg of wood charcoal from 3 to 4 kg of wood. This new technology of producing wood charcoal caught a lot of attention in the past two years from countries like France, China, the Netherlands, South Africa, and others.
There has been a spike in the awareness of environmental issues, which is increasing the demand for sustainable wood charcoal. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the global trade market of wood charcoal still witnessed a CAGR growth of 1.7% from 2019 to 2023. This data is sufficient to prove how the global demand is rising for wood charcoal. The hardwood lump charcoal has the most contribution in the growing market demand, as it had a market share of 71% in 2024. This is because these charcoal lumps are a good option for lighting in regions that have limited access to electricity. They are also widely used in outdoor activities like camping and hiking. The USA is especially involved in this culture and hence, has a lot of consumer demand for wood charcoal. The chemical and materials industry is also moving towards becoming a key market in the USA, further fueling the demand for wood charcoal.
However, the wood charcoal global trade industry is not full of roses. There are some challenges in this market which the exporters have to deal with. Some of those are centred on ineffective conversion technologies and systemic corruption. The traditional myths that have been passed around through the generations are also one of the factors that global exporters deal with. It sometimes becomes difficult for them to find global buyers as there is a misconception that the wood charcoal industry is "dirty". Despite it all, the global trade of wood charcoal is reaching heights with countries like South Africa, which are importing as many as 11,059 shipments within a single year. The wood charcoal industry is no longer just a local enterprise; it has become a global growth opportunity for suppliers, manufacturers, and exporters.
While importing various types of wood charcoal, the wood charcoal importers want to find buyers who meet some specifications of different criteria. These criteria are rooted in wood charcoal’s quality, packaging, sourcing process, production methods, and other factors. Here are some of those requirements:
Wood Charcoal Varieties & Other Related Categories in the Global Market
To expand their businesses, several wood charcoal exporters keep adding related products. Here are the items you can add to your exporting business as well:
The global trade of wood charcoal is driven by shifting consumer demand, environmental regulations, and other factors. This section is dedicated to understanding the top importing countries and the future of wood charcoal in the global trade industry. This is to help you make a strategic way into the market.
Global Market Size
Source: Straits Research
Top Importing Countries for Wood Charcoal (2024):
Source: Volza
When you start exporting your wood charcoal, you can either sell it locally or bring it to the global trade market. Here is how you can find genuine wood charcoal buyers for both of the goals:
1. How much charcoal do I get from 1 kg of wood?
You can get around 0.16 to 0.30 kg of charcoal from 1 kg of wood. However, this quantity also depends on wood type, its moisture content, and method of production.
2. How much charcoal per kg?
1 kg charcoal price can range from INR 10 to 70. Various factors like wood charcoal types, its intended use, and packaging contribute to varying prices in different locations.
3. How is wood charcoal produced?
Wood charcoal is produced through a process called pyrolysis. This involves heating the wood in low-oxygen conditions.
4. What types of wood charcoal can be exported?
While you can export any type of wood charcoal, some of the most exported ones are hardwood charcoal, activated charcoal, and charcoal briquettes.
5. What are the ethical considerations of charcoal export?
Some of the ethical considerations of charcoal exports are related to deforestation, carbon emissions, responsible sourcing, adherence to environmental regulations, and traceability in supply chains.
6. How do I start a charcoal export business?
To start a charcoal exporting business, you will need to do the following things:
1. Research about top importing countries
2. Get all the necessary documents (IEC, performa invoice, certificate of origin, etc).
3. Source high-quality and legal charcoals
4. Find verified charcoal buyers (through B2B platforms, trade fairs, and social media sites)
5. Prepare for shipping
7. What are the key export markets for wood charcoal?
For wood charcoal, South Africa, USA, and Bhutan are some of the key export markets.
8. What are the common uses of wood charcoal?
Wood charcoal is used in industrial heating, cooking fuel, water and air purification, and cosmetics.
9. Who is the biggest importer of charcoal?
The biggest importer of charcoal is South Africa.
10. Which country has a high demand for charcoal?
China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and other countries are some of the countries that have a demand for charcoal.
11. What are the key quality standards for export-grade wood charcoal?
A few of the key quality standards for export-grade wood charcoal are as follows:
12. How can I find potential wood charcoal buyers in the international market?
You can find various wood charcoal buyers through B2B platforms (go4WorldBusiness), trade fairs (AWFS Fair, Woodworking Show, etc), and social media sites (Instagram and Facebook).
13. What is the wood charcoal HSN code?
44020090 is the HSN code of wood charcoal.
Charcoal producers who want to bring their products into the global market will need a valid licence issued by the Energy Commission and will need to align with the conditions of carbon emissions and efficiency. (Full Story: GBC Ghana Online)
