The review says production of logs, sawnwood and roundwood (piles and posts) increased from 151,151 cubic metres in the first half of 2013 to 238,411 cubic metres in the first half of 2014.
Log production rose 77%, driven by an increase in output of prime such as greenheart and wamara as well as lesser utilised species.
Plywood and veneer production accounted most of the increased output with the timber and plywood sub sectors recording a 53% increase in export volumes in the first half of this year.
The report on the forestry sector says: “The forest sector has shown a strong performance so far in 2014. As reported by the Ministry of Finance in the half year summary, this provides strong basis for revising the projected increase in forest sector growth for 2014. Further, as noted in the Ministry of Finance half yearly report, plywood production is one of the main drivers of the growth in the sector with a 65% increase in production recorded in the first half of 2014.”
