In 1H 2016, Ghana earned a total of Euro109.88 million from the export of 194,000 cubic metres of wood products, a 24% increase in value and an 11% increases in volume when compared to the same period in 2015, the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) reported.
Data from the TIDD showed that, compared to first half 2015, increases were seen in exports of curl veneer, kindling and air dried (AD) sawnwood. Markets in Asia accounted for almost 71% of total exported volumes, up
significantly on 2015.
Exports to Europe were up slightly but exports to the US and Middle East countries fell in the first half of 2016.
The leading buyers of Ghana’s air dry (AD) sawnwood were the China, India and Vietnam which together accounted for 95% of all AD sawnwood exports. The US imported almost 80% of all curl veneers with the balance going to the UK.
Exports of AD sawnwood to regional ECOWAS markets amounted to just over 115,000 cubic metres in the first half of this year. The Chinese market is emerging as significant for exports of both AD and KD sawnwood.
In total, exports of primary products (logs and billets) comprised just 9% of total export volumes in the first half, down from almost 17% in 2015. In contrast, the volume of secondary product exports increased in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. Tertiary products exports which included mouldings and dowels fell as a proportion of total exports.
Teak, rosewood, papao, wawa and ceiba were the leading species exported.
