softwood lumber global

Global trade on the decrease in 2020

Article by Gerd Ebner (translated by Eva Guzely) | 13.01.2021 - 09:36

In the first three quarters of 2020, decreases were recorded in the biggest global softwood lumber flows. This is the result of Holzkurier’s analysis of 2020 and 2019 data provided by 14 statistical offices.

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Traditionally, the world’s biggest trade flow is the one from Canada to the US. Until the end of September 2020, it amounted to 22.4 million m³, which is a 5% contraction compared to the year before.

The following two bilateral trade flows both have China as destination. With 13.7 million m³, Russian shipments were down by 7%, while those from Canada plummeted by 36% to 2.3 million m³.

Due to a further decrease of 12%, the softwood lumber flow from Austria to Italy again lost a few places in this ranking. Six years ago, it was the third biggest trade flow in the world. Now, it slipped to sixth place with 1.7 million m³.

The biggest percentage change compared to the first nine months of 2019 was recorded in shipments from Russia to Kazakhstan. With a 126% increase to more than 1 million m³, this trade flow ranks ninth in Holzkurier’s ranking.

From January to the end of September 2020, the 20 biggest trade flows had an overall volume of 56.4 million m³, recording a 5% contraction compared to the same period of 2019.

The 20 biggest global softwood lumber flows | Q1 – Q3 2020
N.	Exporter	Importer	1–9 2019	1–9 2020	Diff. in %
Trade flows incl. planed timber in 1,000 m³
1	Canada	USA	23,500	22,410	–5
2	Russia	China	14,645	13,686	–7
3	Canada	China	3,746	2,394	–36
4	Russia	Uzbekistan	1,810	2,097	16
5	Sweden	Great Britain	1,932	1,801	–7
6	Austria	Italy	1,990	1,752	–12
7	Germany	USA	798	1,251	57
8	Sweden	Egypt	1,059	1,091	3
9	Russia	Kazakhstan	468	1,057	126
10	Canada	Japan	1,371	1,013	–26
11	Austria	Germany	821	871	6
12	Finland	Egypt	1,156	819	–29
13	Latvia	Great Britain	888	790	–11
14	Sweden	Norway	739	789	7
15	Russia	Azerbaijan	683	785	15
16	Finland	China	978	774	–21
17	Sweden	Netherlands	665	773	16
18	Germany	China	583	761	30
19	Belarus	Lithuania	643	751	17
20	Sweden	Denmark	613	735	20

Sources: CA: Statistics Canada, RU: Federal Customs Service, SE: Statistics Sweden, FI: Finnish Customs, DE: Destatis, AT: Statistik Austria, CZ: Czech Statistical Office, BY: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Belstat), BE: Eurostat / NBB.Stat, BR: Comex Stat – MDIC – conversion from kg into m3, conversion factor 550 (product groups 440711, 440719), CL: Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI – Chile), US: United States Department of Agriculture, LV: Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, UA: State Statistics Service of Ukraine (Ukrstat), NZ: Statistics New Zealand © www.holzkurier.com

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