Obtala Limited

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.

Name

Obtala Limited

Legal name

Woodbois Ltd.

Website

https://www.woodbois.com/

Company type

Public

Founded year

2007

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

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

• Sustainable timber production
• African hardwood lumber
• Wood veneer manufacturing
• Forestry concessions management
• Carbon credit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mayfair

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Core 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

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad 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

• Xtwitter.com/WoodboisLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/obtala-limited
• Instagraminstagram.com/woodboislimited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Obtala Limited