Ghana earns Euro 10,042,257 from wood products in 2010

Takoradi, Jan 27, GNA - Ghana realized Euro 10,042,257 from the export of 30,168 cubic metres of wood products in December 2010.

This was contained in a report on export of wood products for December 2010 released by the Timber Industry Development Division in Takoradi on Thursday.

It said the corresponding figures for the same period in 2009 were Euro 9,844,948 and 37,594 cubic metres, showing an increase of 02 per cent in value and a decrease of 19.75 per cent in volume respectively.

The report said of the total value of Euro 137,847,837 for January to December 2010, primary products including poles and billet accounted for Euro 6,779,913 as compared to Euro 12,613,306 from the total value of Euro 128,226,984 in the same period in 2009.

It said tertiary products registered Euro 10,223,279 in January-December 2010 and Euro 8,125,878 in January-December 2009.

The report said secondary products fetched Euro 120,844,645 in January-December 2010 and Euro 107,487,800 in the same period in 2009.

It said Africa recorded Euro 53,520,865 and 191,435 cubic metres in value and volume of total wood exports for January-December 2010.

The report said Europe accounted for Euro 40,031,245 and 85,304 cubic metres in value and volume respectively of total wood products for January-December 2010.

Key markets during the period included Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain, Ireland and Holland.

Emerging markets in Asia and Far East including India, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Singapore and Thailand together contributed Euro 23,812,440 to the total of wood export value in January-December 2010.

It said India continues to be the leading importer of teak poles, billet and teak lumber.

It said The ECOWAS market mainly Nigeria, Senegal, Niger, Gambia, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso and Togo absorbed Euro 49,181,516 of Africa's Euro 53,520,865 wood imports from Ghana in January-December 2010.

The report said plywood and air dried lumber including ofram and ceiba species continue to interest the Nigeria and Niger markets.

It said the Middle East countries notably Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, United Arab Emirate and Israel together contributed Euro 10,490,886 to the total export value for January-December 2010.