The total volume of Ghana's Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) approved export contacts in the first quarter 2016 was 86,335 cu.m, a drop of 28% when compared to approvals in the final quarter of 2015, ITTO reported.
The following table below shows that there was a steep fall in approvals for export of primary and secondary products, with only the small volume of tertiary product exports registering growth.
| Product category | 2015 Q4 cu.m | 2016 Q1 cu.m | % Change |
| Primary | 13,524 | 8,959 | -34% |
| Secondary | 105,067 | 73,948 | -30% |
| Tertiary | 2,050 | 3,428 | 57% |
| Total | 120,642 | 86,335 | -28% |
Source: TIDD
Ghana's exports of primary products in the first quarter fell 33% year on year due mainly to a decline in shipments of teak logs/billets (-85%).
Secondary product exports also fell (-30%) to a low of around 74,000 cu.m; while tertiary product exports increased of 67% to 3,428 cu.m.
In the first quarter sawnwood accounted for 64% (55,409 cu.m) of the volume of all approved export contracts while plywood accounted for a further 12% (10,292 cu.m).
Regional West African markets continued to be the major market for plywood, while for tertiary products, such as sliced veneer and kiln dried sawnwood, the main markets were in Europe. Species such as rosewood (air-dried sawnwood) and high lumber density species such as apa, ekki and denya were mainly for the Chinese market.
Mahogany and cedrella sawnwood along with rotary veneer found a ready market in the US. Middle East and Egyptian markets emerged as a major destination for backing grade veneer, with India the main market for teak sawnwood and gmelina logs.
