Overview of timber sector of Ghana

2.6

million m3
of roundwood (2015)

230.2

million US dollars
of exportation (2015)

Production and processing

Main harvested species

Although Ghana produces quite a number of tree species, the 10 most important Ghanaian timber species, in terms of exported value in 2014, are (TIDD, Forestry Commission):

Teak (Tectona grandis)
Ceiba, Fromager (Ceiba pentandra)
Abachi, Wawa (Triplochiton scleroxylon)
African mahogany (Khaya spp.)
Rosewood, Kpatro (Pterocarpus erinaceus)
Afzelia, Papao, Doussie (Afzelia spp.)
Gmelina (Gmelina arborea)
Aniegre, Asanfina (Aningeria spp.)
Limba, Ofram (Terminalia superba)
Sapele, Sapelli (Entandrophragma cylindricum)

According to ITTO (2017) the Ghanaian industry produced in 2015 about 2.6 million m3 of roundwood, and the majority of this volume is used within the country since only the export of teak logs is permitted.

Export

The exports of primary timber products accounted for a total export value of 230.2 million US dollars in 2015.

Logistics infrastructure

The Ghanaian exports are sold to all regions of the world. Besides overland export routes to other African countries, most timber is exported via the main ports (GHPA, 2015) in the south: Port of Tema and Port of Takoradi. These ports have good connections to the hinterland by road.

For the development of the export industry the country aims to make more efficient use of the wood and to produce more high-end products such as shaped and machined mouldings, flooring, furniture components, dowels and similar added value items. The exports of primary and secondary products account for 97% to the export of wood products, while more high-end (tertiary) products account only for 3,5% of these exports.

Data table

	Production (X 1000m3)	Imports (X 1000m3)	Domestic consumption (X 1000m3)	Exports (X 1000m3)
logs	2.450	10	2.014	446
Sawnwood	534	4	449	89
Veneer	262	0	246	16
Plywood	180	16	172	24

ITTO (2019), data 2017

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