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The 20 biggest global softwood lumber trade flows in 2022; in 1,000 m³; green: increase, red: decrease in trade volume © Holzkurier

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Germany – USA the third-biggest lumber trade flow

Article by Günther Jauk (translated by Eva Guzely) | 21.03.2023 - 11:57

In 2022, softwood lumber exports from Canada to the US were once again the biggest global trade flow by far. With a total of 30.1 million m³, shipments decreased by 7% compared to 2021. Nevertheless, they were only slightly below the levels recorded in 2020 (30.8 million m³) and 2019 (30.3 million m³).

A much more substantial decrease can be seen in softwood lumber exports from Russia to China, which have been falling constantly in the years following 2019 (19.3 million m³) and totaled only 11.9 million m³ in 2022. This is according to data published by China Customs Statistics.

A newcomer on the podium of the world’s biggest softwood lumber trade flows is the one from Germany to the US. In 2022, Germany shipped 2.8 million m³ across the Atlantic, i.e. 21% more than in the year before. In 2019, exports amounted to 1.21 million m³ and in 2020, they totaled 1.86 million m³.

Softwood lumber exports from Austria to Italy are in fourth place with a trade volume of 2.76 million m³ and a recent 2% increase in Austria’s most important trade flow.

In addition to Germany, Sweden also shipped much bigger volumes of softwood lumber to the US. In 2022, they were up by 84% year on year, reaching a total of 1.41 million m³.

Further massive decreases were recorded in Canadian shipments to Asia. In 2019, Canada had still sold 4.56 million m³ to China, whereas last year, trade volumes fell by another 30% to 1.25 million m³. A negative trend can also be seen in Canadian exports to Japan, which were down by 26%, amounting to only 1.1 million m³ in 2022.

The 20 biggest global softwood lumber trade flows | 2022
Trade flows incl. planed timber in 1,000 m³
N. Exporter Importer 1–12 2021 1–12 2022 Diff. in %
1 Canada USA 32,218 30,088 –7
2 Russia China 12,932 11,894 –8
3 Germany USA 2,316 2,800 21
4 Austria Italy 2,722 2,764 2
5 Sweden Great Britain 2,756 2,399 –13
6 Russia Uzbekistan 2,134 2,121 –1
7 Sweden USA 770 1,414 84
8 Sweden Egypt 867 1,327 53
9 Canada China 1,789 1,249 –30
10 Finland Egypt 1,070 1,220 14
11 Latvia Great Britain 1,419 1,129 –20
12 Canada Japan 1,484 1,095 –26
13 USA Mexico 945 1,007 7
14 Brazil USA 931 1,004 8
15 Sweden Netherlands 989 988 0
16 Finland China 726 929 28
17 Germany Austria 976 892 –9
18 Austria Germany 1,139 892 –22
19 Germany France 963 813 –15
20 Sweden Norway 1,036 808 –22