Global Trade of Softwood Lumber in 2013 to Reach Its Highest Level in Five Years
With demand for lumber being in recovery mode in a number of countries in the world in 2013, 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. The biggest increases in overseas lumber trade have been from Canada to China and from the Nordic countries to Japan. - January 22, 2014
Global Sawlog Prices Trending Upward with the GSPI Price Index Reaching the Highest Level Since 2011: the Biggest Price Increases Occurred in Western US and Canada
Sawlog price trends around the world were mixed in the 2Q/13, with prices increasing in log exporting regions of North America and Oceania, but declining in Europe, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. The GSPI Price Index rose 5.1% from the 1Q/13 to the highest level since 2011. - November 11, 2013
As Wood Fiber Costs Have Fallen Substantially in the West the Past Year, Pulp Mills in the Western US Are Becoming More Competitive with Southern Mills
During much of the past seven years, wood costs have been substantially higher for pulp mills in Western US than they have for pulpmills in the Southern states, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. However, sharply falling wood chip prices in the West during 2012 and 2013 have improved the competitiveness of the region’s pulp mills. - October 01, 2013
Higher Pulp Prices and Lower Wood Fiber Costs Improved Profitability for Many Pulp Mills Around the World in the 2Q/13
Wood chip and pulplog prices fell in many regions of the world the 2Q/13 with the biggest declines occuring in Japan, Brazil and Spain, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Lower fiber costs and higher pulp prices have increased profitability for many pulp mills during the first half of 2013. - October 01, 2013
China Importation of Lumber and Logs Roars Back to New Highs in the 2Q/13, with Imports Up 30% Year-Over-Year
Increased investments in the housing sector resulted in record imports of logs and lumber to China in the 2Q/13, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Lumber importation has grown faster than that of logs, with Russia and Canada being the major lumber suppliers in recent years. New Zealand has become the major supplier of logs, overtaking Russia, who has long dominated this market. - August 06, 2013
Sawmills in Sweden and Finland Have Expanded Shipments of Lumber to Markets Outside Europe from 27% to 43% of Total Exports the Past Five Years
Many sawmills in Northern Europe have expanded their lumber sales outside the Europe market the past few years resulting in an increase in non-European exports from 27 percent of total exports in 2007 to 43 percent in 2012, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. The biggest changes have been in shipments to Northern Africa, Middle East, Japan, China and the US. - June 22, 2013
Exportation of Wood Pellets from North America to Europe Reached a New Record of 3.2 Million Tons in 2012, with US Exporters More Than Doubling Their Shipments
Demand for wood pellets in Europe has gone up dramatically the past few years as power companies on the continent have switched from using fossil fuels to renewable energy alternatives. Importation of pellets from North America increased over 60 percent from 2011 to 2012 with the US export volumes more than doubling, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. - April 25, 2013
Sawlog Prices in North and Central Europe Have Trended Downward the Past Two Years, While Prices in Eastern Europe Have Increased Slightly
Sawlog prices in Europe were generally lower in 2012 than in 2011 because of lower log demand from the sawmilling sector, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Many sawmills on the continent have been forced to reduce production as a result of the weak lumber market. Log prices fell the most in the Nordic countries, while prices in Eastern Europe were steady or even slightly higher toward the end of 2012. - April 02, 2013
Lumber Markets Improved Sharply in the US During 2012 and Early 2013; Prices Have Increased Over 60 Percent Since Late 2011
The lumber market in the US really took off in late 2012 and early 2013. Lumber prices in February were more than 60 percent higher than in late 2011. Increased lumber production has put upward pressure on sawlog prices and in the US Northwest, Douglas-fir sawlog prices reached a five-year high in the 4Q/12, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. - March 23, 2013
Exportation of Logs and Lumber from North America to China Fell by 17% in 2012, But a Turn-Around in Shipments is Expected in 2013
The demand for wood products in China fell in 2012, and as a consequence, exportation of logs and lumber from North America was down 17 percent from the previous year to 2.1 billion dollars, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Despite this decline, timberland owners in the US and lumber companies in Canada have greatly benefited from China’s increased wood consumption the past five years. - March 16, 2013
Wood Fiber Costs for Pulp Mills Fell in Both North America and Latin America in the 4Q/12 Because of Weaker Pulp Markets and Increased Supply of Sawmill Chips
Lower pulp prices during last summer and increased supply of sawmill chips put downward pressure on pulpwood prices in North America and Latin America in the 4Q/12, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. The biggest declines occurred in Western US, British Columbia and Brazil. - March 09, 2013
Log Imports to China from New Zealand and the US Were Up 26 Percent in the Second Half of 2012 from the 1H/12, and Chinese Log Prices Reached New Record Highs
Log imports to China were off to a slow start in 2012 but in the second half of the year, shipments picked up with New Zealand and the US gaining the biggest market shares, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. The Chinese domestic log market also heated up, with log prices reaching record high levels. - February 06, 2013
Wood Pellet Exports from North America to Europe Were Up Over 70% in the 3Q/12 Year-Over-Year
Rapid expansion of wood pellet production in both the US South and British Columbia has dramatically increased pellet exports from North America to Europe the past year, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. In the 3Q/12, total shipments were up 70 percent year-over-year to 860,000 tons. The growth is expected to continue with numerous plans for adding capacity, particularly in the US South. - February 06, 2013
Global Sawlog Prices Continued to Drop in the 3Q/12, with Prices in Europe Falling More Than 13% in 12 Months
Weaker lumber markets in Europe have reduced demand and prices for sawlogs on the continent this fall. Lower sawlog prices in both Europe and Latin America have resulted in an almost ten percent reduction in the Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) over the past 12 months, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Log prices in North America have been fairly stable in 2012. - January 12, 2013
Higher Lumber Demand in the US Increased Both US Lumber Production and Importation in the 3Q/12, But Sawlog Prices Have Remained Unchanged Since 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. - November 28, 2012
WRQ Reports That Domestic Sawlog Prices in Russia Have Gone Up 25% in Three Years, Despite Higher Log Export Tariffs
Log costs for Russian sawmills did not fall as the Russian government intended when it implemented a 25 percent log export tariff in 2008. Instead, sawlog prices have increased by 24 percent the past three years and the supply of logs has been tight in 2012, as reported by the Wood Resource Quarterly. - October 30, 2012
Log and Lumber Imports to China Were Down 19% During First Eight Months of 2012, Y-O-Y, with the Biggest Declines Seen of Logs Imported from Russia and the US
Importation of both logs and lumber to China fell substantially in 2012, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Total imports, by value, during the first eight months was 4.3 billion dollars, or 19% less than in 2011, with the biggest declines in logs imported from Russia and the US, and in lumber from North America. - October 20, 2012
Chile and Brazil Have Began to Supply Eucalyptus Chips to Chinese Pulp Mills; However Japan Continues to be the Major Destination for Latin American Wood Chips
In late 2011, Brazil and Chile sent the first chip vessels to pulp mills in China in over five years. In the past, Japan had been the major destination for Latin American Eucalyptus chips. With Japanese pulp mills paying considerably more than Chinese pulp mills for chips, it is likely that a majority of Eucalyptus chips from Latin America will continue to be shipped to Japan. - October 15, 2012
The US Surpassed Canada as the Largest Wood Pellet Exporter in the World in the First Half of 2012
The expansion of wood pellet capacity in the US South the past few years has enabled the US to export more pellets than Canada, making the US the largest exporter in the world. With continued investments throughout southern US, export volumes are forecast to increase from an estimated 1.5 million tons in 2012 to 5.7 million tons in 2015, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. - October 11, 2012
Wood Costs for the World’s Pulp Industry Continued Downward in the 2Q/12 with the Biggest Declines in Brazil, Russia, Australia and Europe
The costs of wood fiber for many pulp mills throughout the world continued to fall in the 2Q/12 and were at their lowest levels in over a year, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. The greatest declines were seen in Brazil, Australia, Russia, Spain and US northwest, and Eastern Canada. - October 08, 2012
South Korea and Japan Will Become Large Importers of Pellets and Energy Chips in the Coming Decade, Reports the Wood Resource Quarterly
Both Japan and South Korea intend to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and increasingly rely on renewable energy in the future. As a consequence, both countries will increase their importation of wood pellets and energy chips from other countries in Asia and from North America in the coming years, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. - September 28, 2012
Lumber Markets in the US Improving with Higher Demand and Increasing Prices in the 2Q/12; Sawlog Price Trends Mixed
Increased demand for lumber in the US and higher exports from Canada to China have resulted in lumber prices being about 35% higher in August of 2012 as compared to August of 2011. Sawlog prices have moved up in Interior BC 2Q/12 y-o-y, while falling in Western US and remaining unchanged in Eastern Canada and the US South, according to WRQ. - September 03, 2012
Sawlog Prices Trended Downward Worldwide in the Past 12 Months; with the Global Sawlog Price Index Falling 11% from the 2Q/11 to the 2Q/12
Wood costs have fallen the past year for many sawmills in the major lumber-producing countries worldwide. The Global Sawlog Price Index was US$82.90 per cubic meter in the 2Q/12, which was 11.5% lower than in the 2Q/11, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. Sawlog prices have declined the most in Europe the past year. - August 31, 2012
Wood Chip Prices Fell Throughout the US and Canada in the 2Q/12; the US South Continues to Have the Lowest Chip Prices and Eastern Canada the Highest
Prices for softwood chips have trended downward in both the US and Canada during the first six months of 2012, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. The biggest declines came in British Columbia and Alberta because of lower market pulp prices. Chip prices in the US South, the Lake States and the Northeast experienced only minor price adjustments during the first half of this year. - August 27, 2012
China Imported 15 Percent Less Sawlogs in the First Half of 2012 Than in 1H/2011; in Addition, Prices for Domestic and Imported Softwood Logs Were Lower Than Last Year
The slowing economy in China has reduced the importation of logs from New Zealand, Russia and the US by about 15 percent during the first six months of 2012. Prices for imported and domestic softwood logs in China have fallen this year by 14 percent and 10 percent, respectively as reported in the Wood Resource Quarterly. - August 07, 2012
A Drop in Demand for Woody Biomass in the US Reduced Biomass Prices in the South, Northeast and the West During the 2Q/12
Prices for mill and forest biomass fell in most major consuming regions of the US in the 2Q/12, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. The main reason for the declining prices is the continued fall of natural gas prices to levels not seen in ten years. - July 27, 2012
Wood Fiber Costs for the European Pulp Industry Have Fallen from the Record Highs of 2011
Wood costs for many European pulp mills have fallen the past six months as the pulp market has weakened. In the Nordic countries, pulplog and wood chip prices have fallen 11-15 percent from last spring, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. Despite the price decline, Europe continues to have some of the highest wood fiber costs in the world. - July 19, 2012
Global Trade of Lumber Up 25 Percent the Past Two Years, with Signs of Better Times Ahead for the Lumber Industry
International trade of softwood lumber increased in 2011 after two years of decline. Imports were up to China, Japan, Spain and South Korea while they fell in the US, the UK, France and Egypt. In Europe, lumber prices might have bottomed and could start increasing if additional supply doesl not outpace higher demand. - June 02, 2012
China Log and Lumber Imports Down in 1Q/12, with Russia and New Zealand Suppliers Hit the Hardest, While North America Gained Market Share
China’s demand for logs and lumber fell in late 2011 and early 2012 because of their slowing housing market. However, over the past ten years, importation of wood products has increased dramatically, as reported in the Wood Resource Quarterly. Lately, North American log and lumber exporters have increased their market share in China at the expense of exporters in Russia and New Zealand. - April 28, 2012
Wood Pellet Exports from the US and Canada to Europe Reached a Record High in the 4Q/11 Thanks to Increased Demand in the United Kingdom
Exports of wood pellets from North America to Europe reached a record of over two million tons in 2011, according to analysis reported in the North American Wood Fiber Review. Canada has long been the main exporter of pellets but in the second half of 2011, the US caught up and exported an equal volume to Canada. - April 07, 2012
Global Sawlog Prices Fell in Late 2011, Especially in Lumber Export-Oriented Countries Such as Western Canada, Finland, Sweden, Russia and New Zealand
Weakening lumber markets in Asia and Europe reduced demand for sawlogs in many countries late last year. As a result, log prices in a number of the major lumber-producing countries in the world fell during the second half of 2011, according to the market report the Wood Resource Quarterly. - April 04, 2012
Eucalyptus and Pine Log Prices in Brazil Close to All-Time Highs in the 4Q/11
Wood costs for pulp mills and sawmills in Brazil have gone up over the past few years, reaching their highest levels in over 20 years in 2011, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. However, towards the end of the year, Eucalyptus and pine log prices fell, mainly because of the strengthening US dollar. - March 20, 2012
Wood Fiber Costs for Pulp Manufacturers Declined in the 4Q/11 as Pulp Prices Fell – with Global Wood Fiber Price Indices Dropping 3.5%
Global demand for pulp has declined and pulp prices fell during the second half of 2011. As a consequence, prices for wood fiber, the highest cost component when producing pulp, were down throughout the world, as reported by the Wood Resource Quarterly. The Global Wood Fiber Indices for softwood and hardwood fiber declined 3.5% from the 3Q/11. - February 21, 2012
Reduced Log Export Tariffs in Russia Unlikely to Boost the Country’s Log Export Volumes Back Up to Historic Levels
Export tariffs on logs shipped from Russia, the world's largest log supplier, are set to be reduced as the country becomes a member of the WTO. The proposed new lower tariffs are not expected to increase export volumes to pre-tariff levels, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. - February 10, 2012
China is Now the World’s Largest Importer of Softwood Lumber and Logs Despite a Slowdown in Imports During the 4Q/11
Reduced activities in the housing construction sector in China decreased importation of softwood logs and lumber in late 2011, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Despite the decline in the 4Q, total imports during 2011 reached a record high, making China the largest importer of logs and lumber in the world. - February 04, 2012
Wood Chip Exports from Latin America Reached a Record High in 2011, with Pulp Mills in Japan and Europe Being the Major Export Destinations
Global trade of wood chips has gone up substantially the past two years. Hardwood chip export from Chile, Uruguay and Brazil was up 43 percent in 2011 compared to 2009, as reported by the Wood Resource Quarterly. A clear majority of the increase was Eucalyptus chips destined for pulp mills in Japan and Europe. - January 27, 2012
US Woody Biomass Prices Have Dropped the Past Three Years; West Coast Prices Are the Lowest in the Country
Relatively low fossil fuel prices have reduced the demand and prices of woody biomass throughout the US the past three years, reports the North American Wood Fiber Review. The Pacific Northwest currently has the lowest biomass prices, slightly lower than the South, while the Northeast continues to have among the highest costs in the country. - January 14, 2012
New Zealand’s Log Exports to China Account for One-Third of the Country’s Timber Harvest in 2011
Log exportation from New Zealand continues to rise at a record pace, with almost one-third of the country’s timber harvest being processed at sawmills in China. The high demand for logs from overseas has increased domestic sawlog prices to their highest levels in 15 years, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. - January 03, 2012
The Expansion of Pulp Production in China Continues and the Lack of Domestic Wood Fiber Sources Has Resulted in Record Imports of Wood Chips in 2011
Chinese pulp mills increasingly have to rely on imported wood chips for their wood fiber needs. In 2011, record volumes are being imported mainly from hardwood plantations in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Imported wood chip costs from Vietnam have gone up 40 percent in two years and are closing in on costs for chips shipped to Japan, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. - December 23, 2011
Weaker Lumber Markets Are Causing Global Sawlog Prices to Fall for First Time Since Early 2009
Slowing lumber markets throughout the world have resulted in declining sawlog prices in many of the major lumber-producing regions in Europe and North America, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. The biggest price reductions occurred in Japan, Sweden, Poland and Russia. - December 17, 2011
Global Hardwood Pulp Producers Face Higher Wood Fiber Costs and Lower Pulp Prices
Profit margins are being squeezed for many hardwood pulp producers worldwide with higher wood fiber costs and lower product prices. The hardwood wood fiber price index (HFPI) reached a 24-year high in the 3Q/11 at the same time as hardwood pulp prices fell by 26% from June through October, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. - November 16, 2011
The Global Sawlog Price Index Reached a 16-Year High in the 2Q/11; the Biggest Price Increases Occurred in Europe, Canada, Russia and New Zealand
Increased consumption of softwood lumber throughout the world has moved sawlog prices to new highs in 2011. The Global Conifer Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) reached a 16-year record high in the 2Q/11, with the greatest increases over last year’s prices occurring in Latvia, Poland, Japan, Russia and Germany, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. - October 21, 2011
Exports of Logs and Lumber from the US and Canada to China Are on Pace to Reach a Record 2.6 Billion Dollars in 2011
The US and Canada have been exporting record volumes of logs and lumber to China in 2011. The Wood Resource Quarterly predicts that exports in 2011 will double those seen in 2010 to reach an estimated value of 2.6 billion dollars. Lumber shipments from Canada alone could reach 1.2 billion dollars this year. The North American share of log and lumber import volumes to China has increased from four percent in 2005 to 18 percent in 2010. - October 12, 2011
Wood Fiber Costs for the Global Pulp Industry Reach New Highs in 2011 with the Biggest Increases Seen in Russia, Finland and Western US
Wood costs account for about 60 percent of the production costs when manufacturing pulp for paper. According the Wood Resource Quarterly, wood fiber costs have gone up about 25 percent since early 2009, reaching record levels in the 2Q/2011. - September 17, 2011
North American Wood Pellet Capacity Set to Increase to Serve Markets in Europe and Asia
European demand for wood pellets has to a large extent, driven the expansion of pellet capacity in both the US and Canada the past five years. The North American Wood Fiber Review reports that in coming years, it is likely that demand for pellets will increase not only in Europe, but also in Asia and North America, which will generate new opportunities for pellet producers, particularly in Western Canada and Eastern US. - August 16, 2011
Pulpwood Prices in Western US Were Up Almost 50 Percent in 2Q/11 Compared to 2Q/10, While Wood Prices Were Unchanged in the US South
Wood costs for pulp mills in Western US have increased over the past 12 months, reaching their highest level since early 2008 in the 2Q/11, reports the American Wood Fiber Review. Pulp mills in the US South have slightly lower wood costs than they did in 2010, and continue to have the lowest fiber costs in North America. - July 11, 2011
Lumber Demand is Increasing Worldwide and Has Resulted in Higher Lumber Prices in the 1Q/11 in the US, Japan, China and Europe
Last year global demand for softwood lumber increased by more than 10 percent after having hit a 50-year low in 2009. The rise in demand has pushed lumber prices in North America, Asia and Europe to their highest levels in ten months, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. - July 02, 2011
Russian Log and Lumber Exports Increased Substantially in 1Q/11, Thanks to Higher Wood Demand in China, Finland and Japan, Reports the Wood Resource Quarterly
The world’s largest log exporter, Russia, increased the shipments of logs in the 1Q/11 after having declined for four years, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Russian exports of softwood lumber have also gone up substantially, especially to China, Uzbekistan, Japan and Egypt. - May 16, 2011
Asia’s Increasing Demand for Wood Drives Sawlog Prices Up in the US and Canada, Reports the North American Wood Fiber Review
Sawlog prices in Western US were up about 20 percent in 2010 as an result of increased competition for logs from log buyers in China, South Korea and Japan, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. Prices for logs in the US South and Canada also moved up last year, but at a slower rate. Sawmills in Western Canada currently have some of the lowest wood costs in the world. - April 15, 2011
Wood Costs for the Global Pulp Industry Have Increased 17 Percent the Past Two Years; Only the US South Has Bucked the Trend
Global market pulp production increased by seven percent in 2010, which increased demand for wood raw-material. As a result, prices for wood chips and pulplogs were up in most regions of the world, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. The Softwood Wood Fiber Price Index (SFPI) has increased 16.5 percent the past two years, while the Hardwood Wood Fiber Price Index (HFPI) went up 17.7 percent. - April 13, 2011