Ghana’s wood product export volume for the first three quarters of 2020 was well below that of the same period in 2019. The total volume shipped in the first three quarters of the year was 159 432 cu.m, against the 229 239 cu.m recorded for the same period in 2019, a decline of just over 30%.
Ghana’s wood product export volume for the first three quarters of 2020 was well below that of the same period in 2019 Credit: BBC
The Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) report showed that of the sixteen products exported only three rotary veneer, air-dried boules and mouldings registered significant volume increases in 2020 over the previous year while the others plummeted. Air-dried sawnwood (80 247cu.m), kiln-dried sawnwood (26 470 cu.m), plywood to regional markets (16 460 cu.m), billets (13 555 cu.m) and mouldings (7719cu.m) were the leading products which together accounted for 91% of the total export volume (159 432cu.m). Export revenues dropped to Eur81.39-million in the first three quarters of 2020 from Eur116.08 million in 2019.
This was attributed to low demand in those countries which experienced lockdowns. However, while export volumes fell, the overall average unit price for all wood products in the January to September period was up slightly on the previous year.
