Decrease in wood deliveries to China recorded for 2012

According to a report by Wood Resource Quarterly the exportation of logs and lumber from North America to China fell by 17% to $2.1 billion (€1.6 billion) last year.

Despite this recent decline, timberland owners in the US and lumber companies in Canada have greatly benefited from China’s increased wood consumption over the past five years. The report says 2012 was the second highest level on record, and more than four times the level three years ago.

North America is a major supplier of softwood products to China, with the market share for logs and lumber in January 2013 accounting for 26% and 53% respectively

Importation of lumber was also lower in 2012, but was much less than that of logs. The biggest changes in wood imports between 2011 and 2012 were the sharp decline of Russian logs crossing the Chinese border and the reduced lumber volumes from the US lumber entering Chinese ports.