ACCRA: Ghana’s cumulative volume of timber exported during the first three quarters of the year was 267,379 cubic metres, up by 7% on the 249,846 cubic metres in the same period in 2014, ITTO reported.
The corresponding earnings for the first three quarters of 2015 was Euro135.02 million, up 37% year on year. Of the total volume of 267,370 cubic metres exported in 2015, airdried sawnwood (38.4%) and kiln-dried sawnwood (17.6%) accounted for 56% of the total. This was followed by overland sales of plywood to neighbouring countries (14.3%), poles (8.5%) and billets (8.1%).
Except for plywood, exports to ECOWAS countries declined however, for most other main export products increases were recorded compared to 2014. The export of poles and billets (small plantation logs) to Asian markets were significant in total exports at +53% and +19%, respectively. Asian markets together accounted for almost 60% of total wood product exports.
