Global lumber trade up 7% in 1H 2014

Global lumber shipments in 2014 are on pace to be the highest since 2006 and 36% higher than during the great recession five years ago, reports Wood Resource Quarterly. In the first half of 2014, they increased 7% above last year’s level. A third of the world’s lumber production is traded internationally. With the exception of New Zealand, all the major exporting countries stepped up their lumber shipments to foreign destinations: Russian exporting sawmills have ramped up production by almost 15%, and Sweden and Germany may reach their highest levels in seven years if demand particularly from Egypt and China holds up.

On the largest softwood lumber importing market, China, Russia and Canada are still the two dominating suppliers, accounting for 77% of the total import volume. This share was unchanged from 2013. Other supplying countries, including Chile, the US and Sweden continue to keep about the same share of the market this year as they did in 2013.