By: Fred Yaw
Sarpong
In
first quarter of 2016 Ghana earned €50,514,982.89 from wood products export
representing an increase of 12.8%, according to the first quarter report from
the Forestry Commission. The volume of the wood products was 92,313.824 cubic
meters.
Primary
products which were made up of Poles and Billets contributed 10.37% and 5.91%
in volume and value respectively from the first quarter 2016.
However,
the secondary products (most exported products) comprising of Lumber (AD &
KD), Plywood, Veneer and Kindling contributed 87.18% and 91.31% in volume and
value respectively from the first quarter figures.
Tertiary
products which (least exported products) consist of Processed Lumber or
Mouldings and Dowels on the other hand contributed 2.45% and 2.78% in volume
and value from the first quarter of 2016.
The
commission said that the production of primary products could be improved by a
partial lifting of the ban on round logs of some high density species like
Ekki, Denya, Danta; which has the potential to improve volumes, revenues and
new products development. It said this may possibly improve technological
transfer and probably expand the tertiary products market significantly.
The
specific species exported were Rosewood, Teak, Papao, Wawa and Ceiba
contributing 75,066.135 cubic meters and it earned Ghana €38,606,709.74, representing
81.32% and 78.41% of total volume and value for the first quarter 2016.
The
report said Rosewood contributed 25.66% and 31.02% in volume and value
respectively whiles Teak contributed 29.82% and 23.35% in volume and value
respectively.
Among
the exported wood products, top five were lumber AD, lumber KD, plywood
(overland), sliced veneer and billet contributing 82,604.036 cubic meters
(92.73%) yielding €47,735,087.53 (94.50) for the first quarter 2016.
Meanwhile,
Lumber AD contributed 58.61% and 63.97% in volume and value respectively whiles
Lumber KD contributed 12.02% and 12.16% in volume and value respectively.
China,
India, Vietnam, Germany and Italy were the favourate trade destinations contributing
68,205.137 cubic meters and yielding €38,739,136.82 representing. China
imported 33.28% and 40.94% in volume and value respectively whiles India
imported 32.27% and 24.06% in volume and value respectively.
The
report said the general market performance was declining (Africa being the
worst affected) with the exception of the Asia and Far East market which
improved by 8.80% in volume and 12.87% in value.
The
commission noted that the declining market for Ghanaian wood products export
was worst in Africa, recording a decline of 4.20% in volume and 7.30% in value
comparing it to the same period in 2015.
“Ecowas
countries which represent about 60% of Africa’s market share; trading mainly in
plywood (overland) has seen some major fluctuations in the Ghanaian wood
products trade,” the report mentioned.
The
commission said this decline in Ghanaian plywood trade could be as a result of
the stain pattern in some main species used in plywood production.
The
report mentioned that the growth in the wood products export during the first
quarter 2016 was achieved by fewer firms compared to the number of firms for last
quarter 2015.
The
report said this (fewer firms achieving growth) could be attributed to the
trends in the stumpage for some species from different reserves or could also be
attributed to inadequate raw materials but the wood products trade (from the
producers’ view point) is achieving operational excellence.
Comments
Post a Comment