SP Exports Trending Upward

For the third consecutive month, export volumes of Southern Pine lumber have revealed an upward trend. During September, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service recently reported SP exports to be just under 52 million board feet (MMbf). This volume represents a boost of 16% above the same month last year, contributing to a year-to-date increase of eight percent when compared with the first three quarters of 2014. Offshore shipments during September roughly break down as follows: 29.0 MMbf dressed, 8.4 MMbf rough, and 14.5 MMbf treated lumber.

Softwood lumber imports to the U.S. during September reached 1.24 billion board feet, up 15% from the volume imported during September of 2014. When compared with last year, year-to-date softwood imports remain up seven percent.

SFPA members can find detailed monthly reports of Southern Pine exports and imports in the Members Only section at SFPA.org. These reports are provided as a benefit of SFPA membership. This data originates from USDA. SFPA assimilates the USDA wood products data and prepares a more user-friendly eight-page report to reflect only relevant Southern Pine volumes exported and a two-page report of softwood volumes imported, including three-year comparisons by month and year-to-date. SFPA’s reports by country also feature conversion of all volumes to thousand board feet (Mbf). Contact SFPA’s Vernon Barabino at 504/443-4464 (option 1), or e-mail him at vbarabino@sfpa.org with any questions about these reports.