Improved Markets Drive Global Trade of Softwood Logs

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WRI LLC
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As a sign of improved markets for forest products in early 2010, global trade of logs increased by almost 20 percent during the first quarter as compared to the same quarter in 2009, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. An estimated 67 million m³ of softwood logs were traded in the world in 2009, which can be compared to over 95 million m³ in the recordyear of 2007.

The biggest rise in softwood log imports occurred in Western Europe and Asia where imports to China, South Korea, Germany and Belgium have gained the most this year. After two years of declining trade, 2010 may very well be the turning point when global log trade will start growing again. However, the growth is not of the magnitude such that global shipments will reach the pre-financial crises levels of 2006 and 2007.

Russia is still the major supplier of softwood logs to the world, but its share of total trade has fallen from almost 40 percent in 2006 to less than 28 percent in the 1Q/10. This decline can be contributed to the 25 percent log export tax, which the Russian government implemented in 2008. Log exporters in New Zealand, the second largest logexporting country in the world, has benefited from the high costs of Russian logs; New Zealand exports increased by 43 percent during the first four months of 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009. New Zealand Radiata pine logs currently account for approximately 13 percent of globally traded logs. Other major log-exporting countries in 2010 include the US, the Czech Republic, France and Canada.

China is by far the worlds biggest importer of softwood logs, accounting for about a third of globally traded logs in 2010. During the first six months of this year, imports were up 17 percent from the same period in 2009, reaching the highest level on record, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly.

To read the whole report, please contact Wood Resources International LLC.

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