In the first two months of 2023 Ghana’s air-dried sawnwood accounted for 54% (24,589 cu.m) of the total wood exports of 45,312 cu.m, to be the leading export product. These exports earned Euro9.90 million which was 21% more than in the same period in 2022. In contrast, exports of kiln-dried sawnwood declined 13% (Euro3.52 million in January-February of 2023 compared to Euro3.72 million for January-February of 2022).

Air-dried sawnwood, together with mouldings and plywood were the only three out of thirteen products that registered significant year-on-year growth of 14%, 25% and 175% respectively in 2023 when compared to 2022.

India and Vietnam were ranked the first and second in terms of Ghana’s exports of air-dried sawnwood. India absorbed 22,100 cu.m of the product valued at Eur8.35 million with Vietnam 1,072 cu.m which earned Eur0.83 million to become a major market for Ghana’s air-dried sawnwood.

Between January and April 2023 Asian markets absorbed most of the teak exported from Ghana (27,890 cu.m) compared to the previous year (26,554cu.m). This was followed by the Middle East where there was a with 1.4% increase in 2023, however, demand in Europe, regional markets and the US weakened compared to the same period in 2022.

TIDD data shows that the Asian market accounted for close to 62% of all wood product exports in 2023 as against 60% recorded in 2022.

Five species namely teak (90%), papao (3%), deny (2%), dahoma (1%) and kako/ekki (1%) accounted for the bulk (97%) of the air-dried sawnwood exports in the first two months of 2023.