(Business in Cameroon) - Over the first three months of 2019, exports of Cameroonian wood veneers towards the European Union (EU) were very dynamic. Latest data from the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) showed that these exports grew by 68% compared to the same period last year.

The volume shipped to the European market over the period reviewed is 4,300 tons, making Cameroon the third African supplier of veneers towards the EU; behind Côte d’Ivoire (7,200 tons, down 2%) and Gabon (12,970 tons, up 3% from Q1 2018).

Minor players such as E Guinea shipped 1,000 tons, up 61% from Q1 2018 and exports from DRC went up 700% to 900 tons. Meanwhile Congo saw its veneers exports to the EU drop by 8% to 2,560 and Ghana suffered a 6% drop shipping 1,050 tons.

Let’s mention that over the period, Cameroonian wood veneer exports to the US market drastically slumped by 96%, according to ITTO.

BRM