Ghana’s total export volumes from January to November 2019 stood at 280,223 cubic metres and export earnings were euro 140.74 million (USD 154.13 million). However, exports were down 24,152 cu.m (-8%) and euro 32.18 million (-19%) when compared to the same period in 2018, ITTO reported .
Ghana’s export statistics from January to November 2019 have been published by the Timber Export Development Division (TIDD) of the Forestry Commission (FC).
Ghana’s main exported wood products are air- and kiln-dried sawnwood, billets and plywood shipped to regional markets.
Of these four products, only kiln-dried sawnwood registered an increase (3.5%) compared to 2018. Exports of other products, while of modest volumes, recorded growth with kiln-dried boules, plywood (to non-regional markets), kindling, mouldings and rotary veneer all doing well.
Sawnwood exports in the first 11 months of 2019 accounted for close to 75% of the total export volumes of 280,223cu.m. The graphic below illustrates the 2018 and 2019 trends.
In both 2018 and 2019, the top export product was air-dried sawnwood followed by kiln-dried sawnwood.
However, while the volume of the former dipped from 2018 (187,882 cu.m) to 2019 (165,154 cu.m), the latter increased from 2018 (42,1135 cu.m) to 2019 (43,614 cu.m).
Ghana’s wood product exports went to the traditional market destinations of Asia (69%), Europe (16%), Africa (10%), America (4%) and Middle East (2%), with teak, wawa, ceiba, mahogany and niangon as the leading species.