In the first six months of 2019, $139 million in wood and wood products were exported from Central America, and 54% of them were sold by companies in Costa Rica and Panama.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
In the first nine months of 2018, $206 million in wood and wood products were exported from Central America, and 52% were sold by companies in Costa Rica and Panama.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics]
In the first six months of 2018, exports of timber and wood products from the region totaled $156 million, 3% more than the same period in 2017, partly because of sales to India.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
On June 6 and 7, wood producers and exporters will be meeting in Antigua, Guatemala, to explore business opportunities with international buyers.
The Living Interior Furniture Expo (L.I.F.E.) is being organized by the Guatemalan Exporters' Guild, and will be held in Santo Domingo Del Cerro, in Antigua Guatemala.
In 2016, Central American countries exported $223 million worth of wood and its manufactures, and the value exported to India grew by 20% compared to 2015.
Figures from the information system on the Central American Market for Wood and its Manufactures, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the chart"]
Furniture and household articles, pellets and laminated wood are among the products with the highest demand in the global wood market.
From the executive summary of a study by Procomer entitled "World lumber market and trends for value-added products":
Goods that incorporate a higher level of manufacturing are those that show the highest levels of growth in world imports, or other products that are less processed but which participate in sectors which are of value per se (sustainable construction).
German imports of home and office furnishings are growing by 10% a year.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
According to figures from the Association of German Furniture Industry (VDM, by its acronym in German), in March this year, the country increased its furniture purchases from abroad by 10.1% compared to the same period in 2014.
The growth in foreign sales of goods and furniture made from wood is 8% in comparison to 2013.
From a statement issued by Agexport:
The Commission of Furniture Manufacturers and Forest Products -AGEXPORT-, has reported an 8% increase in July 2014, after the industry generated $8.6 million in foreign sales compared to July 2013 ($ 6.7 million).
Furniture, lumber, doors, floors, flooring boards, coffins, logs etc.
The U.S. market has once again become significant for the Guatemalan furniture and wood industry.
Until last June sales of furniture and forest products to the U.S. market represented 28% of total exports of the sector, by the end of 2013 sales are expected to exceed $100 million.
The information was released at the opening of the 26th edition of Expomueble, an event which "brings together all of the producers in the furniture and forest products sectors in Guatemala in an area of over 8 thousand square meters of exhibitions", reported Estrategiaynegocios.net.
The European Union has put into effect a regulation to combat trade in products manufactured with illegal timber with an emphasis on traceability.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
In March the European Union (EU) put into effect Regulation (EU) 995/2010 of the European Parliament which seeks to regulate the market for wood products in order to minimize the risk of selling illegal timber in the EU, this regulation requires the operator or company responsible for introducing a product of this nature to the region to be able to apply the principle of "due diligence", so as to ensure that timber traded is legal.
The Guatemala Forest Group consists of seven companies that manufacture products such as doors, furniture and bamboo veneers.
In an article in Siglo21.com.gt the entrepreneur and member of the Commission of Furniture Manufacturers and Forest Products (Cofama), Gerardo Gandara, said: "We have a fairly wide range of wood products and are joining forces to promote ourselves commercially abroad in the best way possible".
The export of furniture and wood products from Guatemala shows a growth of 25% from January to March 2012.
An improved U.S. economy is proving positive for the timber sector in Guatemala. The growth of exports from January to March 2012, is equivalent to $21 million.
"Ivar Pérez, Executive at the Furniture Manufacturers Committee (Cofama) of the Guatemalan Exporters' Guild and president of Muebles Sinai, agreed that the reactivation of the U.S.
The business sector reported sales of $80 million in 2011, mainly of furniture.
Businessmen dealing in wood and furniture at the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) reported sales of $80.46 million in 2011.
The figure represents 16.35% more than in 2010, when sales totaled $69.15 million reported PrensaLibre.com.
By items, the highest percentage of exports in 2011 were of furniture, with $22.3 million, followed by lumber, with $ 21.9 million, doors, with $10.25 million, and pallets, with $7.2 million.