More than 20 percent of the world’s softwood log trade originates from New Zealand. In 2013, the country exported 57 percent of the country’s timber harvest and the value of the trade had tripled in five years, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly.
Importation of logs and lumber to China reached a new record in 2013 with lumber imports being up 19% and log imports increasing 23% from 2012, as reported in the Wood Resource Quarterly.
Global trade of both lumber and logs were on track to reach their highest levels since before the global financial crisis in 2008, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Softwood products accounted for almost two-thirds of the value traded.
Wood fiber costs for hardwood pulp producers have fallen 17% in two
years and in the 3Q/13, were the lowest they have been since 2009,
reports the Wood Resource Quarterly.
With the GSPI Price Index reached the highest level since 2011: the biggest price increases occurred in Western U.S. and Canada, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly.
Importation of logs and lumber to China were up over ten percent the
first four months of 2013 after a reduction in wood demand during
2012, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly
The Wood Resource Quarterly report of the Global Forest Industry in the first Quarter 2013 reports sawlog prices were up in practically all regions covered by the WRQ in the first Quarter of 2013, the biggest quarter-to-quarter increase since early 2011.
The improved housing market in the US the past four months has resulted in both higher lumber production in the US and in increased importation of lumber. As a consequence lumber prices have gone up by over 30% from last year. However, sawlog price have remained unchanged so far this year, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly.