EXPORTS of wood products have reduced by almost 90 percent in terms of volume in 2018, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)-Northern Mindanao reported on Monday, March 25.

Based on the report of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Northern Mindanao, the total wood product exports reached 180,171.28 cubic meters in 2018 from 1,605,749.77 cubic meters in 2017.

However, the wood product exports are now valued at US$105.1 billion, a 121.04 percent increase from 2017's value of US$47.5 billion.

According Neda-Northern Mindanao, the huge decline in the total volume of wood products for exports is mainly due to the decline in the exports of lumber products.

The total lumber production of the region in 2018 reached 179,444 cubic meters, an 88.82 percent drop from the 1,604,930.43 cubic meters recorded in 2017.

The production of lumber in 2018 went down by 88.82 percent, reaching only 179,444 cubic meters, compared to the 1,604,930.43 cubic meters recorded in 2017.

Misamis Oriental, which ranked the highest in terms of the total production of lumber in the region, recorded 164,358.09 cubic meters.

Production of plywood also dropped at 41.85 percent, from 20,167.74 cubic meters in 2017 to 11,727.07 cubic meters in 2018.

Veneer and blockboard production, on the other hand, posted increases by 28.74 percent and 49.2 percent, respectively.

The sawlog production also grew at 71.91 percent in 2018, recording 132,380.82 cubic meters from 77,006.63 cubic meters in 2017, according to the data from DENR-Northern Mindanao.

This increase, according to Neda, was due to the rise in the volume of production of yemane, falcata, mahogany and other species.

Bukidnon registered the largest contribution to the total sawlog production with 90,506.88 cubic meters; followed by Misamis Occidental with 18,210.85 cubic meters, Lanao del Norte with 11,563.12 cubic meters and Misamis Oriental with 9,328.05 cubic meters.

Camiguin, on the other hand, has zero recorded sawlog production in 2018.