During the third quarter period of 2015 the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) of the Ghana Forestry Commission (GFC) vetted and approved export contracts totalling 172,124 cubic metres. Compared to second quarter contract volumes this represented an increase of over 65 percent, ITTO reported. The table below shows the volumes of approved contracts for the second and third quarters of 2015.
| Product category | Q2/2015 m3 | % | Q3/2015 m3 | % |
| Primary | 14,531 | 14 | 7,004 | 4 |
| Secondary | 87,230 | 84 | 162,060 | 94 |
| Tertiary | 2,126 | 2 | 3,060 | 2 |
| Total | 103,887 | 172,124 |
Source:TIDD, Ghana
In the third quarter of 2015 the volume of approved sawnwood contracts increased to 162,000 cubic metres, an increase of 86% over second quarter volumes. This increase was mainly due to the lifting of the export ban on rosewood sawnwood during the third quarter.
Sawn rosewood accounted for 39% of the total volume of the contracts approved in the third quarter. In addition, compared to the second quarter, there was a 37% increase in approvals for teak exports and a 12% increase approvals of other sawnwood contracts.
In the third quarter there was only a minor change in tertiary product exports approvals.
Approvals for primary product exports fell in the third quarter of 2015. The volume of contracts for gmelina log exports submitted in the third quarter fell almost 75% (2,000 cu.m) compared to the second quarter. Similarly, exporters submitted very few contracts for teak poles/billets export. Logs go mainly to the India market and in the third quarter contract volumes were down over 26%.
Contract submissions for the export of plywood to neighbouring countries (overland export) fell to 19,282 cubic metres, an almost 6% decline.
Sawnwood export contracts in the third quarter accounted for almost 80% of the total volume of contracts approved during the third quarter (136,461 cu.m), a sharp increase compared to the previous quarter.
The market structure for Ghana’s wood product remained unchanged in the third quarter. The regional West African market continued to be the major destination for Ghana’s plywood.
Sliced veneer and kiln dried sawnwood exports are mainly destined for European markets while air dry sawnwood, especially rosewood and other high density species such as apa, ekki and denya are for the Chinese market.
The US market continued as the major destination for mahogany/cedrela sawnwood and rotary veneer. The Middle East and Egyptian markets are emerging as a major destination for backing grade rotary veneer.
