Seattle -- North American log exports to Asia during the first quarter of 2014 were up 14 percent over this time last year and 30 percent higher over the same period of time in 2012.

Over the past year, shipments have been approximately 1.5 million m3 per quarter, which is up from an average of 1.2 million m3 per quarter during 2011 and 2012. North America continues to supply China, Japan and other Asian countries with logs for their forest products sectors, according to a report in North American Wood Fiber Review.

More than 90 percent of solid wood exported to Asia came from te western parts of North America, with 53 percent coming from the U.S. Pacific Northwest and 41 percent from British Columbia. The remaining share of exports were split between Alaska, California and southern states.

Exports from the southern states were mainly sent to China and India. Shipments of southern yellow pine were up 130% for the period January through May this year compared to the same period last year, and volumes are already 70% more than they were for all of 2012.