Guyana’s production and export of forestry products both recorded significant increases during the January to August period this year compared with the corresponding period last year, according to figures published in the September 2010 Commodity Market Update prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The official figures indicate that local production of logs totalled 183,960 square metres, representing an increase of 13.09% over the corresponding period last year. Log exports for the same period shot up more impressively with the sale of logs on the international market increasing by 157% over the comparable periods.
The overall increase in log production was propelled chiefly by a 134.09% hike in split wood production though decreases were recorded in several species including sawn wood and round wood over the corresponding periods. According to the official statistics, plywood production increased by 25.94% between January and August 2010 compared with the same period last year.
The overall increased production of logs over the January to August period this year corresponded with a 157% increase in log exports, though sawn wood, round wood and split wood exports reflected a decline during the January to August period this year. Plywood also recorded a strong export performance for the period under review.
The overall January to August 2010 increase in forestry sector exports was attended by a 17.67% increase in the value of exported products during the January to September 2010 period when compared with the same period last year. The major contributors to the increase in export value were logs and plywood, though the period saw a significant decrease in the value of split wood and other value-added products. Some local forest products including sawn wood (10.6%)and round wood (18.3%)attracted increased export prices during the first three quarters of 2010 compared with the corresponding period last year, though the report says that over the same comparable period export prices of logs and split wood and logs declined by 10.2% and 5.4% respectively.
Local plywood production is expected to record negative growth in the period ahead in the wake of the closure of the manufacturing operations of the Barama facility at Land of Canaan following a boiler explosion early in October. The company reportedly estimates that it is unlikely to be in a position to resume plywood production for the next two years through President Bharrat Jagdeo earlier this week declared that existing agreements with the company could be reviewed if the restart of plywood production operations takes an unduly lengthy period.