Guyana: Mixed timber price trends

Source:
ITTO's Tropical Timber Market Report
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During the period under review, there were some exports of greenheart logs in fair and sawmill qualities. Purpleheart log prices remained relatively stable for all qualities while mora log prices were down.
For sawnwood, undressed greenheart prices were favourable for the prime, select and sound qualities. Undressed purpleheart prices slipped while mora prices continued to hold. Dressed greenheart top-end prices rose from US$890 per cu.m to US$1,450 per cu.m, but the exported volumes were small. Prices for dressed purpleheart remained steady in the period under review.

This fortnight period saw exports of Lesser Used Species to the European market at good average prices. Guyana’s washiba (ipe) continues to be in demand in the US market attracting an average price of US$1,750 per cu.m. Roundwood, fuelwood and splitwood made notable contributions to total export earnings with the main destinations being the Caribbean, Europe and North America. Average prices for splitwood reached a high of US$969 per cu.m.

For the period under review, exports of value-added products were significant. The major exported products were doors, indoor furniture, windows, mouldings and spindels. Species used in the manufacturing of these products included greenheart, purpleheart, crabwood and kabukalli. The Caribbean was the major market for Guyana’s value-added products.

First kiln drying facility commissioned in Guyana
On 9 November 2010, the first GYD20 million kiln drying complex was opened in Essequibo Coast. The facility was commissioned under the ITTO funded project “Value adding and kiln drying of commercial timbers by small scale community saw millers in Guyana” being implemented by the Guyana Forestry Commission. The complex has a capacity of drying 10,000 cu.m of timber. The Essequibo region accounts for 50% of Guyana’s total timber production.

The Minister of Agriculture, who opened the complex, noted that this kiln drying facility is the first of three facilities to be established nation wide. The facility also puts more focus on processing in Guyana and promoting exports of value-added products. This is expected to create more jobs and opportunities for loggers and concession holders.

Malaysia Log Prices
Guyana Log Prices
Logs, FOB Georgetown
 SQ - $ Avg unit per m3
               
Std
Fair
Small
Greenheart
- 130
120
Purpleheart
200 170 150
Mora  
120 115-135 110
*Small SQ is used for piling in the USA and EU. Price depends on length.

Guyana Sawnwood Prices
Logs, FOB Georgetown
 $ Avg unit per m3
EU and US markets Undressed dressed
Greenheart




Prime
650-675 -
Standard
- 649-1450
Select
615-763
Sound
600-657
Merchantable
-

Purpleheart
Prime
-
-
Standard
-
700-848
Select
650-890
Sound -
Merchantable -
Mora
Prime
-

Select
500

Sound
450-500

Merchantable
400-429

Guyana Plywood Prices
Plywood, FOB Georgetown Port
$ Avg unit val. per m3
Baromalli
BB/CC
5.5mm
-


12mm
-

Utility
5.5mm
-


12mm
-


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