Hardwood imports
-
February 20, 2019
Volume of US imports of China’s hardwood plywood falls 76%
US imports of hardwood plywood increased in volume by 11% in November but are still down 20% year to date from 2017. Gains were sharp in November from the many countries gaining from cooling US trade with China. Imports from Malaysia and Indonesia were both up nearly 50% for November and are now ahead by around two-thirds for the year to date. Imports of plywood from China, while gaining 4% in November, are down 76% year to date. China, which in 2017 held nearly half of the US import market in hardwood plywood, is now well behind Indonesia in volume sent to the US this year. Although the volume of hardwood plywood is down, total sales in dollars are ahead by 9% year to date, due to higher prices for the types of panel being sold. Sawn tropical hardwood imports dip US Imports of sawn tropical hardwood fell by 3% in November to 19,791 cubic meters, which is 10% higher than... Continue reading
-
August 20, 2019
Vietnam replaces China as top supplier of hardwood plywood to the US
US imports of hardwood plywood were down 5% in June, with decreases in volume from nearly all trading partners. Imports from China were down 21% in June and are behind last year’s volume by just under 90,000 cubic meters (51%) year to date. Through the first half of the year, US imports are down 26% and, with the exception of Vietnam, imports from all major trading countries are down more than 10% year to date. While down slightly in June, imports from Vietnam have increased more than 112,000 cubic meters year to date, up 109%, as the country has supplanted China to become the new top supplier of hardwood plywood to the U.S. Imports of Chinese tropical veneers fall further US imports of tropical hardwood veneer rose by 5% in June but remain at a level 30% below that of June 2018. Year to date imports are down 21% as imports from China and Cameroon continue to plummet. Imports... Continue reading
-
April 26, 2023
China: Timber imports fall in Q1/2023; prices follow the trend
In the first quarter of this year, China's total timber imports reached 15.8 million m3, Slightly lower than 16.32 million m3 in the first quarter of 2022. The average price of wood imports also decreased in the first quarter.... Continue reading
-
October 23, 2017
US tropical sawnwood now account for 30% of total sawn hardwood imports
US imports of temperate and tropical sawn hardwood grew slightly in August to 72,278 cu.m., but the value of imports declined. Tropical sawnwood imports accounted for 21,381 cu.m. or 30% of total sawn hardwood imports in August. Tropical imports increased 14% from July, while the value of tropical sawnwood imported was almost unchanged at US$21.7 million. Year-to-date tropical imports were up 5% compared to August 2016. The month-over-month increase was mainly in imports of balsa, keruing, jatoba and acajou d’Afrique. Balsa imports grew 24% to 6,252 cu.m. in August. Keruing imports were 2,234 cu.m., up 19% from July. Imports of ipe sawnwood were slightly down in August (2,412 cu.m.), but at US$5.1 million ipe was still the leading species imported by value. Malaysian exports to the US increased by one third in August. The US imported from Malaysia in August 2,073 cu.m. of... Continue reading
-
December 7, 2017
Africa expected to become a net wood importer
An interesting perspective on the global hardwood trade was provided at this year's International Hardwood Conference (IHC) by consultant Pierre Marie Desclos who suggested that population growth will accelerate regionalisation and sharpen the focus on raw material supply and logistics. Mr. Desclos said that the hardwood resource in many tropical regions and some temperate countries is becoming depleted and that climate change may accelerate this trend. He also noted that, according to UN estimates, world population is projected to rise from 7.3 billion today to 9.7 billion by 2050, adding 80 million more inhabitants every year, with longer life expectancy and higher buying power. Mr Desclos suggested this would likely result in a critical increase in hardwood demand and changing relationship between buyers and consumers. Due to particularly rapid population growth, and limited... Continue reading
-
October 23, 2017
US tropical sawnwood now account for 30% of total sawn hardwood imports
US imports of temperate and tropical sawn hardwood grew slightly in August to 72,278 cu.m., but the value of imports declined. Tropical sawnwood imports accounted for 21,381 cu.m. or 30% of total sawn hardwood imports in August. Tropical imports increased 14% from July, while the value of tropical sawnwood imported was almost unchanged at US$21.7 million. Year-to-date tropical imports were up 5% compared to August 2016. The month-over-month increase was mainly in imports of balsa, keruing, jatoba and acajou d’Afrique. Balsa imports grew 24% to 6,252 cu.m. in August. Keruing imports were 2,234 cu.m., up 19% from July. Imports of ipe sawnwood were slightly down in August (2,412 cu.m.), but at US$5.1 million ipe was still the leading species imported by value. Malaysian exports to the US increased by one third in August. The US imported from Malaysia in August 2,073 cu.m. of... Continue reading