The Forestry Commission has in its recent report revealed a decline of 29.52% in value and 30.72% in volume of wood products exported to some African countries from January to February 2025.

The wood products exported, which included Plywood (Overland), Sliced Veneer, Rotary Veneer, lumber (kiln-dried), Lumber (Air Dried), Plywood, and Sliced Veneer (Overland), generated €1,422,147.60 (7.84%) from an exported volume of 3,199.543 m³ (8.28%).

Compared to the same period in 2024, Ghana earned €2,017,893.24 (10.72%) from the exported volume of 4,618.163m³ (11.34%).

Per the report, the major destinations included Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa, with the ECOWAS sub-region contributing €994,026.02 (69.90%) from 2,438.200m³ (76.20%) of the total African wood products exported from January to February 2025 as compared to €1,398,648.68 (69.31%) obtained from 3,479.700 m³ (75.35%) of the same.

The report also revealed that Ghana earned a total of €18,150,625.09 from the export of 38,657.644 m³ of timber and wood products from January to February 2025.

This marks a decrease of 3.60% in value and a decrease of 5.04% in volume compared to the same period in 2024, when exports generated €18,829,352.66 from 40,708.956 m³. The overall average unit price also saw a slight increase of 1.51% from €463/m³ in January-February 2024 to €470/m³ in the same.

Ghana's timber and wood product exports for February 2025 generated a value of €8,414,292.48 from a volume of 18,064.021 m³, representing a 8.38% decrease in value and an 8.95% decrease in volume compared to February 2024, which amounted to €9,184,284.18 from a volume of 19,840.694 m³.

In the first half of 2024, according to data from the Forestry Commission, Ghana’s timber and wood products sector generated €60,583,834.31 from the export of 133,125.827 cubic meters of wood. This represents a 14.11% decrease in value and a 14.35% drop in volume compared to the €70,534,416.61 earned from 155,421.875 cubic meters exported over the same period in 2023.

According to the recent report, primary wood products—comprising Billet, Boules (Air Dried), Kindling, and Lumber (Air dried)—accrued €10,844,942.76 (59.75%) from 27,816.718 m³ (71.96%) of the total export of wood products in January-February 2025.

The figures indicate an increase of 5.80% in value and an increase of 8.16% in volume, respectively, as compared to the primary wood products export figures in January-February 2024 of 25,718.824 m³ (63.18%) valued at €10,250,892.23 (54.44%).

“Secondary Wood Products comprising Boules (Kiln Dried), Briquettes, Curls Veneer, Lumber (kiln dried), plywood, Plywood (Overland), Rotary Veneer, Sliced Veneer, and Sliced Veneer (Overland) formed the bulk of the country’s wood export, which generated €6,624,817.34 (36.50%) from a volume of 10,141.474 m³ (26.23%) in January-February 2025.”

“The figures indicate a decrease of 14.29% in value and a decrease of 28.12% in volume, respectively, as compared to the secondary wood products export figures in January-February 2024 of 14,109.001 m³ (34.66%) valued at €7,728,990.10 (41.05%),” the report added.

Tertiary Wood Products which include Processed L/Mouldings contributed €680,864.99 (3.75%) from a volume of 699.452 m³ (1.81%) to the total wood products export in January-February 2025.

“Moreover, the figures indicate a decrease of 19.85% in value and a decrease of 20.62% in volume, respectively, as compared to the tertiary wood products export figures in January-February 2024 of 881.131 m³ (2.16%) valued at €849,470.32 (4.51%),” the report revealed.

The major markets of Ghana’s wood products exports per the Forestry Commission’s report are as follows:

Exports to Asia and Far East:

Ghana’s top trade destinations from January to February 2025, brought in €10,783,082.30 (59.41%) from a volume of 27,060.845m³ (70.00%). This represents increases of 11.57% in value and 9.93% in volume as compared to the same period in 2024, which was €9,664,546.44 (51.33%) earned from 24,616.978 m³ (60.47%).

Exports to Europe:

This destination is the second-largest market by value. The country gained €3,568,720.50(19.66%)from 5,225.132m³ (13.52%) from January-February 2025 which reflects an 8.47% decrease in value and a 20.74% decrease in volume as compared to the same period in 2024, which was €3,898,980.47 (20.71%), which was obtained from 6,592.336 m³ (16.19%).

Exports to America:

Wood products exported to the American market amounted to €1,645,421.53 (9.07%) from 1,857.517 m³ (4.81%) from January to February 2025, making it the third-largest destination by value. This represents a decrease of 24.40% in value and a decrease of 34.12% in volume as compared to the same period in 2024, where €2,176,613.89 (11.56%) was earned from 2,819.355 m³ (6.93%).

Exports to The Middle East:

The Middle East accounted for €731,253.17 (4.03%) from a volume of 1,314.607 m³ (3.40%) from January to February 2025, making it the fifth-largest destination by value. This reflects a 31.74% decrease in value and a 36.25% decrease in volume compared to the same period in 2024, where €1,071,318.62 (5.69%) was earned from 2,062.124 m³ (5.07%).

In November last year, The Ghanaian government signed a landmark agreement with the European Union, positioning Ghana to become the first African country to issue Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT) licenses by June 30, 2025.

The deal was formalized at the 12th session of the Ghana-EU Joint Monitoring Review Mechanism of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) in Accra on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, marking a major step forward in sustainable timber management.

The signing of the FLEGT agreement concludes years of extensive stakeholder engagement, solidifying Ghana's readiness to promote and trade in legally sourced timber products. This milestone also sets Ghana as a model for other countries aiming to implement FLEGT licensing.