Barama ramps up plywood manufacturing with $1B reinvestment

Barama Company Limited has completed a more than $1 billion reinvestment aimed at significantly expanding plywood production capacity, marking a major milestone in the company’s long-term strategy to strengthen value-added manufacturing in Guyana’s forestry sector.
The investment, part of Barama’s “Barama 3.0” transformation programme, has upgraded plywood production facilities at Land of Canaan on the East Bank of Demerara and revitalised the company’s timber supply chain through the installation of new machinery and advanced processing technologies, a release said.
As a result, Barama reported that plywood output capacity is expected to rise by 50 to 70 per cent, depending on market conditions, reinforcing its position as Guyana’s primary producer of tropical hardwood plywood.
The company said it has transitioned from a period of restructuring to full operational recovery, improving log-to-plywood conversion rates by more than 7 per cent, allowing greater value to be extracted from harvested timber in line with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy.

To support the expanded operations, Barama has increased sourcing from rural and riverain communities under its “Local First” policy, with approximately 95 per cent of raw material inputs now sourced locally. The expansion is expected to require a 50 per cent increase in timber supply, alongside improved timber specifications that benefit small-scale loggers and community forestry associations.
Employment has also risen sharply, with workforce capacity increasing from about 200 to 415 employees, the company said. More than 40 per cent of its workforce is female, a notable shift in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Barama added that it maintains above-standard welfare practices and remains one of the few unionised companies in the forestry sector.
The company recently received its fourth consecutive GNBS “Made in Guyana” Standards Mark certification, covering its range of regular, grooved and water-resistant plywood products. During the reinvestment phase, Barama also introduced waterproof (WBP) plywood to meet growing construction demand, with additional products planned.
Barama said production has been affected in recent months by raw material shortages and market challenges, resulting in an estimated 2,000 cubic metres of lost output valued at G$330 million, alongside reduced man-hours and job losses. The company is seeking government collaboration to stabilise the local plywood industry and protect employment.
Founded in 1991, Barama Company Limited is the largest investor in Guyana’s forestry sector and specialises in the manufacture of tropical hardwood plywood for local and export markets.