According to recent ITTO Tropical Timber Market (TTM) Report,  three or four Indian plywood companies are considering setting up plants for the production of veneer in Gabon, which has become an attractive investment place for wood industry in recent years. 

Gabon has emerged as a new location for veneer production, after countries such as Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam or Indonesia. Many wood industry companies (e.g. from Yamuna Nagar) started to consider Gabon as attractive investment place, after Greenply Industries announced its plans to establish a veneer manufacturing plant just in Gabon.

Three or four Indian plywood companies are considering seriously setting up plants for the production of veneer. Among them are two companies in Gandhidham and one in Vishakhapatnam are considering establishing their units in Gabon’s Special Economic Zone (GSEZ), which is offering many business opportunities.

ITTO indicates that these companies should not have problems related to wood supply, as in Gabon harvestable forest are fully capable to deliver raw materials to veneer producers.

Indian wood industry company are nothing new in Gabon, as over 20 investors from India have already settled in the GSEZ with sawmills, kiln drying facilities, furniture, veneer and plywood manufacturing units.

ITTO report says:

“The Indian plywood industry consumes approximately 1,400 containers of veneers every month and currently these come from Myanmar, Laos and China. However with the decision in Myanmar to halt logging importers have begun to look elsewhere”

Source: ITTO Tropical Timber Market (TTM) Report. Volume 20 Number 15, 1st – 15th September 2016 

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