Falling demand from Continental Europe and the US continues to have a damaging effect on Ghana’s timber trade, which took a further hit in the first quarter of 2009.
According to figures in the latest ITTO TTM report, a total contract volume of 107,184m3 and 1,801 pieces of furniture parts, representing 29.6% and 81% falls respectively compared with the previous quarter.
With the exception of teak poles/billets/logs, which mainly go to the Indian market, all the major exportable products saw further decreases in volume in the quarter.
Timber, plywood, sliced veneer and finger-jointed products all fell in volume, ranging between 9-22%.