Ghana earned 13,756,304 dollars from the export of 38,219 cubic metres of wood products in December last year, as compared to 14,381,498 dollars realised from 41,992 cubic metres in December 2000.

Export earnings and production of wood products fell from 498,843 cubic metres and 175,243,978 US dollars in January to December 2000 as compared to 476,500 cubic metres and 169,003,711 US dollars 2001.

These were contained in an annual report of the Forest Products Inspection Division (FPID) released at Takoradi. The report indicated that 24 wood species contributed 11,574 cubic metres of kiln dried lumber for December last, with Wawa forming 73 per cent, Odum, eight per cent, Koto and Kyere, six per cent.

It stated that Germany imported 3,117 cubic metres, while export to UK and US stood at 1,504 and 433 cubic metres, respectively. A total volume of 111 cubic metres of furniture parts was exported to the United Kingdom, Italy and Holland in December last year, the report added.

Odum formed 41 per cent out of the 393 cubic metres of parquet flooring while Essa, Papao and Apa, Black Yedua and Teak, contributed 22 per cent, 19 per cent, six per cent and four per cent in that order. Italy imported 230 cubic metres, Taiwan 80 cubic meters and Australia 49 cubic meters of parquet flooring from Ghana.