The strongest declines were registered for Austria, Germany, the Northwest of the United States, Czech Republic and the Northwest of Russia. Global log trade has been steadily growing over the past three years. In 2018, 93 million m³ set a new record. It equaled a growth rate of 52% within ten years. WRI converts all prices to US dollars. This is why currency fluctuations sometimes distort assertions with regards to price increases and declines.
Imports to China lost 8% in the 1Q compared to the 4Q of 2018. This is the highest quarterly loss of the past four years, WRI reports. Since the 3Q/2018, imports of logs and lumber in China have been declining.
The European Sawlog Price Index (ESPI) declined by 3.1% in the 1Q compared to the previous quarter and with this reached its lowest value in ten years. The biggest price declines were due to damaged wood accrual in Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, Austria and Latvia.
