U.S.
hardwood lumber exports climbed from 91.4 million board feet (MMBF) in July
2011 to 99.1 MMBF in August, the latest month for which data are available. According
to a report from the Hardwood Review, the end of seasonal holidays in some
areas and extended sawmill closures in Quebec and Ontario caused Canadian
buyers to source an additional 3.9 MMBF of lumber from the U.S. in August,
while Italian buyers gave U.S. suppliers the go-ahead to ship containers for
post-holiday delivery, lifting exports to that country from 1.1 MMBF in July to
5.2 MMBF in August.
Exports
to China fell from 36.6 MMBF in July to 33.7 MMBF in August, and September will
likely show another drop. In October/November, Hardwood Review expects shipments
to pick up, as Chinese buyers have smaller inventories and know red oak and white
oak prices are near the bottom. Since Chinese New Year comes early in 2012 (Jan.
23), the uptick will be short-lived, however, with purchases slowing back down
in mid-December.
For
more information and the complete report, contact Hardwood Publishing, www.hardwoodreview.com, email information@hardwoodpublishing.com,
or call 704-543-4408.