In the first eight months, Germany exported 3.25 million sm³ of softwood logs. This makes for a volume increase of 26 % compared to the same period last year. One country stands out in particular compared to 2017: Virtually starting from zero, China climbed to 3rd place. According to Destatis, China received only 2000 sm³ between January and November of 2017. During the same period last year, the volume reached 297,000 sm³.
Deliveries to Austria grew 15% to 1.78 million sm³ and the increase for deliveries to Belgium was 22% totaling 362,000 sm³. While exports to Czech Republic and France also saw increases in the double digits, delivery volumes to Italy, Poland or Switzerland declined.
Looking back at the volumes until at least 2010, Germany has never before imported softwood log volumes as high during that period. In 2017 already, a new record was set with a total of 2.58 million sm³. Almost the same volume was last reached in 2010 with 2.52 million sm³ in eleven months. But November 2018 alone already broke records: Since 2010, Germany had never imported more than 400,000 sm³. Generally, the monthly volume would reach between 100,000 and 300,000 sm³.
