Obtala Limited
Woodbois Ltd (formerly Obtala Limited) is an LSE AIM-listed sustainable African hardwood producer managing forest concessions in Gabon and supplying 50+ timber species, Okoume/Ilomba veneers, and carbon credits to wholesale B2B customers in construction, furniture, marine, and plywood markets.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersMayfair, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Obtala Limited does
Woodbois Ltd (formerly Obtala Limited) is a publicly listed sustainable African hardwood producer and global supplier, established in 2004 and trading on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market with a registered office in Guernsey. The company manages natural forest concessions in Africa — with significant operational investments in Gabon — and produces over 50 species of sawn timber alongside lightweight Okoume and Ilomba veneers (0.5mm to 10mm thickness) generated on Italian Cremona peeling machinery. A complementary carbon credits product line monetizes afforestation and sustainable forestry activity for corporate ESG and net-zero buyers.
The business serves wholesale B2B customers across multiple end-uses: construction and infrastructure (house-building, railway sleepers), furniture manufacturing, marine and motorhome interiors (boat building via Okoume/Ilomba veneer plywood), and plywood producers. The company applies selective harvesting limited to six trees per hectare and pursues afforestation at rates exceeding timber removal, aligning operations with UN Sustainable Development Goals and the EU Timber Regulation. It is ranked 8th globally by SPOTT for sustainability practices and recognized as a Top 10 performer in the timber and forestry sector.
Commercially, Woodbois operates a direct enterprise field-sales model with no e-commerce or self-serve channels. A London-based global sales team (including named account manager Ous Dagui) handles wholesale quoting for bulk timber and veneer orders; carbon credit pricing varies by project and volume. Marketing is conducted through corporate LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram channels, the company website with sustainability content, and investor-facing annual integrated reports. Revenue, headcount, and customer counts are not disclosed in the available data.
Obtala Limited firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Obtala Limited
- Legal name
- Woodbois Ltd.
- Website
- https://obtala.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Woodbois Ltd (formerly Obtala Limited) is an LSE AIM-listed sustainable African hardwood producer managing forest concessions in Gabon and supplying 50+ timber species, Okoume/Ilomba veneers, and carbon credits to wholesale B2B customers in construction, furniture, marine, and plywood markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Obtala Limited industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Forestry & Hardwood Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Sawmills (321113), Hardwood Veneer and Plywood Manufacturing (321211), Timber Tract Operations (11311), Sawmills and Wood Preservation (3211)
- SIC
- Sawmills & Planting Mills, General (2421), Millwood, Veneer, Plywood, & Structural Wood Members (2430), Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hardwood Lumber Sawmills (IMAMABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wood Flooring & Wood Veneer Products (IMADADAI), Wood Remanufacturing (Mouldings, Millwork Blanks, Cut Stock) (IMAMABAI), Veneer & Specialty Wood Products Trading (IMAMAIAL)
Keywords
Where Obtala Limited is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mayfair
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Obtala Limited business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Timber Production and Sales: Production and wholesale sale of sawn lumber from sustainably managed African forest concessions. The company produces over 50 species of African hardwood lumber sold in bulk to construction, furniture manufacturing, and industrial buyers.
- Veneer Production and Sales: Production and wholesale of Okoume and Ilomba veneers (0.5mm to 10mm thickness) sold to plywood manufacturers, boat builders, and furniture makers.
- Carbon Credits: Carbon offsetting services and project services providing sustainable impact and compliance solutions. Includes afforestation efforts that plant trees at rates exceeding removal, generating carbon credits for sale.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Obtala Limited product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Woodbois sustainably manages natural forest concessions in Africa and produces and globally distributes responsibly sourced hardwood products. The company produces sawn lumber from more than 50 species of African timber and Okoume/Ilomba veneers (0.5mm to 10mm thickness) using modern Italian processing machinery in its Gabon sawmill and veneer factory, and also sells carbon offset credits generated through afforestation activities.
Product overview
Woodbois operates as a single unified product/service offering focused on sustainable African hardwood production and distribution. The core portfolio consists of three main offerings: Timber (Lumber) - the primary product line producing and supplying over 50 species of sustainable African lumber; Veneer - producing Okoume and Ilomba veneers for plywood applications; and Carbon Credits - offsetting and project services. The company also offers sustainable forest management services through its forestry concessions in Africa, integrating production capabilities with environmental responsibility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Timber (Lumber)
Quantifiable outcome
- Selective harvesting limited to 6 trees per hectare, ensuring sustainable forest recovery and biodiversity preservation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Obtala Limited
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Obtala Limited technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Obtala Limited partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Obtala Limited competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- UPM-Kymmene: UPM is a Finnish forest products multinational producing plywood, veneer, and timber for construction and industrial customers. While UPM is broader and European-focused, it competes for the same downstream plywood and veneer buyers as Woodbois.
- Weyerhaeuser: Weyerhaeuser is one of the world's largest timberland owners and a major producer of lumber, panels, and engineered wood. Broad incumbent that overlaps with Woodbois in sustainable timber production and global wholesale distribution.
- Stora Enso: Stora Enso is one of the largest global forest products companies producing sawn timber, plywood, and engineered wood for construction and packaging. While it does not focus on African hardwood, it overlaps with Woodbois in veneer, plywood, and sustainable lumber markets.
- West Fraser Timber: West Fraser is a North American lumber and engineered wood (OSB, plywood) producer serving global construction markets. It is a broad incumbent in the same general lumber and panel products category as Woodbois.
- Mayr-Melnhof Holz: Mayr-Melnhof is a major European processor of sawn timber, panels, and engineered wood products. It overlaps with Woodbois in industrial hardwood processing and serves similar construction and furniture OEM customers.
Direct peers
- Precious Woods Holding: Swiss-listed Precious Woods manages sustainable tropical forest concessions in Africa and South America, producing FSC-certified sawn timber and engineered wood products. Comparable to Woodbois as a publicly listed sustainable African hardwood producer.
- Danzer: Danzer is a global hardwood specialist producing sliced and peeled veneers, sawn lumber, and engineered wood products from African and other tropical hardwoods. It directly competes with Woodbois in Okoume-based veneer and sustainable African hardwood lumber.
- Compagnie Française du Bois (Groupe Carlos): French timber trader with significant African operations in Gabon and neighboring countries, sourcing tropical hardwoods and veneer logs. Comparable to Woodbois in Gabon-based African hardwood distribution and species portfolio.
- Interholco (Liberia): Interholco manages tropical forest concessions in West Africa, producing FSC-certified hardwood lumber and logs for export. Direct peer in African sustainable hardwood supply with similar buyer segments in construction and furniture.
Regional players
- Binderholz: Binderholz is an Austrian family-owned sawmill and engineered wood producer serving European construction and industrial markets. Regional player in sawn timber and veneer/panel products with comparable downstream customers to Woodbois.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Obtala Limited social profiles
Digital presenceObtala Limited financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Obtala Limited leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Obtala Limited funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Obtala Limited M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Obtala Limited
What does Obtala Limited do?
Woodbois sustainably manages natural forest concessions in Africa and produces and globally distributes responsibly sourced hardwood products. The company produces sawn lumber from more than 50 species of African timber and Okoume/Ilomba veneers (0.5mm to 10mm thickness) using modern Italian processing machinery in its Gabon sawmill and veneer factory, and also sells carbon offset credits generated through afforestation activities.
Is Obtala Limited a public or private company?
Obtala Limited is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Obtala Limited founded?
Obtala Limited was founded in 2004. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Obtala Limited based?
Obtala Limited is headquartered in Mayfair, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Obtala Limited make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Timber Production and Sales are the primary driver. The others are veneer Production and Sales and carbon Credits.
Who are Obtala Limited's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are UPM-Kymmene, Weyerhaeuser, Stora Enso, West Fraser Timber and Mayr-Melnhof Holz. Direct peers are Precious Woods Holding, Danzer, Compagnie Française du Bois (Groupe Carlos) and Interholco (Liberia). Binderholz is listed as a regional player.
Does Obtala Limited have an API?
No public API is recorded for Obtala Limited.
What industry is Obtala Limited in?
Obtala Limited's product category is Sustainable Forestry & Hardwood Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMABAB, Hardwood Lumber Sawmills, with a secondary code of IMADADAI, Wood Flooring & Wood Veneer Products. Its NAICS code is 321113 and its SIC code is 2421.