Ghana’s 2015 wood product exports totalled 367,061 cubic metres, compared to the 356,036 cubic metres recorded in 2014. The corresponding export earnings for 2015 and 2014 were Euro 187.62 million and Euro 138.22 million. Compared to 2014, Ghana’s 2015 volume of exports grew by 3% and by a significant 36% in terms of value, ITTO reported.
The major markets for Ghana’s wood products in 2015 were Asia (59%), Africa (19%) and Europe (15%). Wood product exports to Asia totalled 215,343 cubic metres and Asian markets continue to absorb a high proportion of Ghana’s wood products.
African markets accounted for 67,950 cubic metres of all 2015 exports valued at Euro 26.93 million with the ECOWAS market accounting for the largest share (82%) of the total volume for sales to African countries.
Togo, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Benin were the major ECOWAS countries that traded with Ghana and 2015 imports by these countries increased around 10% compared to 2014.
Previously Nigeria was a major importer of Ghana’s wood products, particularly plywood, but in 2015 Nigeria’s imports from Ghana dropped by 44% to 21,135 cubic metres in 2015, from the 37,758 cubic metres recorded in 2014. The decline is attributed to Nigeria’s regulations on the availability of foreign exchange.
Exports to Senegal and Togo in 2015 also fell compared to levels in 2014 declining 20% and 24%, respectively. The fall in exports to regional markets is attributed mainly to supply problems in Ghana rather than any weakness in demand.
The third major destination for Ghana’s wood products in 2015 was Europe. The volume of wood products exported to EU member states in 2015 totalled 54,734 cubic metres, which represented 15% rise year on year.
The major products exported in 2015; air and kiln dry sawnwood, rotary veneers, dowels and flooring. The main species in demand were wawa, asanfina, ceiba, sapele, chenchen and koto, all of which posted year-on-year gains.
