Three continental markets comprising Asia, Europe and Africa are Ghana’s key wood export destinations and together accounted for 89% (77,406 cu.m) of total wood product export volumes in the first four months of 2024 (86,755 cu.m) as against 91% (89,661 cu.m) registered for the same period in 2023 according to data from the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD).

Asia continued as Ghana’s top market destination earning the country Eur21.33 million from the export of 54,738 cu.m during the period Jan-Apr 2024. This shows there were declines of 9% in the value of exports and a 10% drop in export volumes compared to the Eur23.51million from exports of 60,971 cu.m in the Jan-Apr period of 2023. Exports of products to Asia included air and kilndried sawnwood, teak logs, plywood, mouldings, billet and sliced veneer. Key markets included India and Vietnam.

Europe accounted for 13,616 (16%) of the total wood product export volume in the period under review with a corresponding export value of Eur8.15 million. The figures showed a decrease of 21% in value and a decrease of 16% in volume when compared to the Eur10.37 million from 16,194 cu.m recorded during Jan-Apr 2023.

The European market maintained its position as the most attractive in terms of prices for sawnwood, plywood, boules and briquettes. The main European countries that traded with Ghana during the period were Germany, Belgium, United Kingdom and Spain.

African country wood products imports from Ghana included air and kiln dry sawnwood, plywood (by sea and land to the regional markets) and rotary and sliced veneers. These exports earned Ghana Eur3.83million from the total volume of 9,052 cu.m shipped during the period Jan.-Apr 2024.

Africa’s share of wood product exports were consumed largely by ECOWAS countries that included Senegal, Nigeria, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and Togo.

The ECOWAS sub-region contributed Eur2.70 million from 6,980 cu.m of the total African wood product exports. Egypt, Morocco, Benin, South Africa and Mozambique were the main Non-ECOWAS markets for Ghana’s wood products.

The main species exported included teak, wawa, eucalyptus, ceiba and denya among others.