Liberia
Liberia exported negligible quantities of timber during the mid-1990s - primarily on account of political instability. More recently, a "strong man" emerged and the timber industry was expanded rapidly, primarily through the operations of at least one (ethnic Chinese) company new to the country. This expansion has been shown to be linked to the procurement of weapons using revenue derived from log exports with which to retain political power (by military means) - and should therefore be included in the broad category of "illegal logging".

To its credit, the United Nations (from mid-2003) in effect prohibited its member countries from importing logs from Liberia. China much the largest importer between 1999 and 2003 and also France, sought to prevent this prohibition.

During 2002, China's imports alone matched the highest previously recorded level of Liberian exports. France continued to import substantial quantities of timber during the early 1990s, despite a ban on timber exports, partly in exchange for military support to the then ruling elite.