HARARE – Timber exporters should strive to value-add their products to optimise foreign exchange earnings, national trade promotion body, ZimTrade, has revealed.ZimTrade said local firms should ensure that the bulk of their timber exports is value-added to enhance demand in the export markets.Most of the local industrial plantations produce sawn timber, veneer, plywood, fibreboard, pulp and paper, doors furniture, and engineered blocks.A large percentage of the sawn timber output and timber-related products are exported to regional and international markets.The growth of the domestic timber industry growth has lately been spurred by growing regional demand, stimulated by the booming construction industry in developing Southern African countries. Observers say this has the potential to drive growth in timber production in Zimbabwe.At its peak in 2001, Zimbabwe exported timber products worth about $137 million and now intends to increase sales in the short to medium term.According to an assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an arm […]
Value-add products, timber exporters urged
