Sep 02, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. During the period January to April 2008, exports of Bolivian forestry products registered a fall of 12% by value in comparison to the same period of 2007, ITTO reported. This broke a positive trend that has lasted since 2002, as the total value of products dropped from $59.71 million to $52.59 million. The main causes of the downward trend were the shortage of diesel supply, depreciation of the US dollar, and the downturn of the housing market in the US and parts of Europe. Although the decrease in exports originated from the manufactured products sector, 76.97% of the sector's exports were forest products during the first four months of 2008. Of total exports, $40.48 million comprised mainly of products such as chestnut without husks, doors, canned palm tree hearts, plates, parquet, chairs, decking, and fiberboards. Another $12.11 million (23%) consisted of semi-manufactured products which include sawn wood, small wood planks and posts. Exports of wood products were $30 million in value, or 57% of the total, and non-wood forest product export accounted for $22.55 million by value. In comparison to 2007, twelve fewer products were exported in 2008. Of total exports, $11.93 million of sawnwood was exported, followed by doors ($3.82 million), plates ($2.51 million), parquet ($2.38 million), chairs ($1.32), decking ($1.18 million) and fiberboard ($1.10 million). By volume, the main species exported were oak, followed by almond tree, pink lapacho, chinchona and curupay, among 50 other species. The US is the most important market for Bolivia's wood product exports ($17.94 million), followed by the UK ($6.59 million) and Argentina ($3.46 million). Just as in 2007, a total of 49 countries purchased Bolivian forestry products.