The volume of air-dried lumber exported from the country in December last year was 8,891 cubic meters.

Teak formed 40 per cent of this figure, Ofram 27 per cent, Wawa five per cent, Danta, four per cent while Papao and Apa formed three per cent, the Forest Products Inspection Division (FPID) annual report said.

India continued to be the leading importer of the commodity importing 3,086 cubic meters that represented 34.71 per cent in December alone. Senegal imported 2,154 cubic meters while USA imported 373 cubic meters.

The report said 3,371 cubic meters of sliced veneer was exported with Asanfina forming 60 per cent of the total volume, Sapele eight per cent, Chenchen six per cent, Makore six per cent and Mahogany five per cent.

Italy imported 1,972 cubic meters while France imported 57 cubic meters. The report added that 4,368 cubic meters of rotary veneer was exported in December last year with Ceiba leading with 86 per cent, Otie, four per cent and Essa two per cent.

USA and Italy imported 1,928 and 485 cubic meters of rotary veneer, respectively, while Germany took 222 cubic meters of the commodity the report said.