Status and trends of the processed wood products trade in Ethiopia

Abstract

ABSTRACTInformation on the trends of the processed wood products (PWP) trade in Ethiopia is lacking. Therefore, the objectives of this article are (a) to evaluate the trends of expenses from importing and incomes generated from exporting different PWP, (b) to assess the PWP trade balance, and (c) to forecast future ex-penses in importing PWP. To achieve the objectives, import and export data of PWP in the years of 2005–2013 were collected. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation. The trend of expenses was analyzed using Excel and future expenditures were forecasted by models for each PWP, independently. The result indicated that, Ethiopia spent on average, US$55.2 million/yr to import different PWP. The trend of expenses to import different PWP increased by 13% each year. There was a strong and positive correlation between the average yearly expenses to import different PWP with that of the population of the country in different years’ time (R2 = .80) and also the GDP of the country in different years’ time (R2 = .87). Overall, the results showed the self–insufficiency of the country in producing different PWP and the heavy expenditure to import wood products to fill the gap.