The Rainforests of Cameroon - PROFOR

92 The Rainforests of CameroonFigure 5.8. Timber exports by firm (roundwood and roundwood equivalent), 2003Alpi, 8.4%Rougier, 8.3%Others,43%Thanry-Vicwood, 8.0%SEFAC, 6.3%INGF, 5.7%TTS, 2.7%Decolvenaere, 2.8%Source: Authors, based on GFW Atlas, 2004.Wijma,4.6%SIM,4.8%Patrice Bois, 5.2%ing those with processing facilities (table 5.2). In the early 1990s, most ofthe companies mentioned in table 5.2 were independent; by 2004, about65 percent of the concession area was controlled by fewer than 10 groups.The trend toward concentration is also significant for the export industry,given that the seven largest industrial groups accounted for 44 percent ofwood exports in 2003 (figure 5.8).The increase in area controlled by industrial groups did not underminecompetition or favor oligopolistic practices. In fact, consolidation wasaccompanied by diversification in the origin of capital, company ownership,products, and markets. The French and Lebanese presence shrank as newinvestors arrived. Vicwood, a firm based in Hong Kong, China, acquiredthe Cameroonian subsidiary of the French group Thanry, giving China asignificant share of Cameroon’s forest concession area. Malaysian groupssubcontracted with domestic concession holders following the devaluationbut then, reluctant to participate in the competitive process for acquiringharvesting rights, left the scene. The presence of Italian companies increasedin Cameroon because Delivered of the by log The export World Bank ban. e-library A typical to: case is PLACAM,The World Banka northern Italian company that IP : 192.86.100.34 specializes in ply veneer of ayous andinvested directly in Cameroon Mon, in 09 Nov response 2009 17:06:18 to the anticipated ban.Three large local companies (Ingeniérie Forestière, STBK, and SCTB)have emerged and invested both in new concessions and processing equip-(c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank