The export of softwood lumber to China from leading exporting countries amounted to approximately 2.17 million m³ in March (-6% compared to 2017). The export totaled 5.60 million m³ during January-March (-6% compared to 2017). The trend line for the export of softwood lumber to China decreases further, but remains at a very high level.
Russia exported approximately 1.43 million m³ of softwood lumber to China in March (+1% compared to 2017) and Canada exported 395,000 m³ (-26%). During January-March Russia exported 3.52 million m³ of softwood lumber to China (+1%) and Canada exported 1.02 million m³ (-26%).
The Russian market share in the Chinese lumber market is increasing at a record high level. The smoothed line for the Canadian market share is decreasing at a very low level for the country. The market share trend for the leading exporters in Europe is decreasing slightly but remains at a high level for the region. As shown in the chart, there is a strong correlation between the Russian and Canadian market share. Note that these are smoothed series that result in lagging trend lines that do not reflect major changes in individuals months.
Among the European exporters, the Finnish market share in the Chinese lumber market is decreasing but remains at a high level. Sweden’s market share trend is increasing to approximately 30%. The German market share levels off at a very low level for the country. The trend line for Ukraine’s share is clearly increasing to 15%. Note that these are smoothed series that result in lagging trend lines that do not reflect major changes in individuals months.
The main exporter Russia increased the export by 1% during January-March (compared to 2017). Ukraine increased the most (+618%), followed by the U.S. (+65%). Canada decreased by 26% during that period.
For more information contact:
Jenny Wessung, CEO
Woodstat AB
jenny.wessung@woodstat.com
https://www.woodstat.com
About Woodstat
Since 2007 Woodstat delivers comprehensive statistics and analysis to sawmills, forest owners and banks across the world. Woodstat publishes approximately 400 issues of the newsletter ”Market News” every year. The Market News are concise and contain the latest market statistics for the manufactured lumber product industry. Woodstat’s charts collection is available at www.woodstat.com and contains hundreds of relevant diagrammatic data for anyone working in the wood or forest industry.