Interesting Facts
Even though the charcoal market is segmented into lumpwood charcoal, charcoal briquettes and other various forms of activated charcoal. In terms of value, lumpwood charcoal is estimated to contribute the largest share, of more than 67% to the market.

The charcoal industry is characterised by numerous small scale producers, a few well-known brand name producers of household charcoal and a dominant industrial user of charcoal.

Although current industry estimates suggest that charcoal contributes only 1.6% to the GDP generated by the Forest Products industry, it could potentially become a source of income for low skilled, unemployed individuals in areas with high unemployment such as in rural communities and townships.

The number of Charcoal businesses in South Africa is growing steadily in response to demand, growing awareness and the rise of township entrepreneurs.

There is a growing demand for quality locally manufactured lumpwood charcoal and its by-products particularly in urban areas and in black townships where there is an increasing boom of SMMEs and Entrepreneurs as these businesses are key to job creation, innovation efforts, poverty alleviation, promoting economic growth and contributing meaningfully to the South African tax base. The high growth of SMMEs has been in Gauteng province and KZN.
The opportunity is also attributed to factors such as the growth in township population, rising income levels, growing middle income group and increasing urbanisation which stirs a demand in the main city centres.
The rise of youth unemployment has a danger of increasing crime, however entrepreneurship seems like the only solution to curbing this mischief. Interestingly, some young people have taken to the streets and are selling ‘Chicken Dust’, this not so new township dish has allowed many young people to survive on a day to day and not be socially excluded.
Almost every busy corner in a township has a young man trying to make ends meet, they are young and energetic and ready to contribute to social and economic good. Street corn “Millies” vendors and Shisanyama “Braaied meat” outlets like Chicken Dust have become sizzling businesses in the townships. All these small entrepreneurs have added to the growth in business opportunity for charcoal.