Cross-border trade between Canada and the US accounted for almost half of the total volume (14.6 million m³; +3%), making it by far the biggest global trade flow. The value of softwood lumber deliveries increased by 8% to US-$3.91 billion.
Russia, delivered smaller volumes of softwood lumber to China. At 5.76 million m³, the volume decreased by 2%, whereas the value of the traded goods remained constant at €1.12 billion.
There is much more competition for places three to five, where trade volumes range from 1 to 1.5 million m³, than in first and second place. As in the first half of 2023, Sweden secured third place this year, too, with 1.41 million m³ (-8%) of softwood lumber exported to Great Britain. Austria, which delivered 1.35 million m³ (-1%) to Italy, follows in fourth place. Germany ranks fifth with 1.07 million m³ (-7%) shipped to the US.
7% price increase
In the first half of 2024, the average sales price of the 32.2 million m³ of softwood lumber was €255/m³ (+7%). Year on year, there some differences in the development of bilateral average prices, though:
+US-$11/m³ to US-$268/m³ from Canada to the US
+US-$6/m³ to US-$210/m³ from Russia to China
+US-$13/m³ to US-$299/m³ from Sweden to Great Britain
-US-$27/m³ to US-$249/m³ from Austria to Italy
-US-$8/m³ to US-$272/m³ from Germany to the US
More lumber to Japan again
Russia delivered 730,000 m³ to Uzbekistan, i.e. 11% fewer than in the first half of 2023. Volumes shipped from Canada to China saw an even bigger decrease of 21% to 696,000 m³.
Belarus, on the other hand, exported more softwood lumber to China (+44%; 620,000 m³) and Canada (+35%; 545,000 m³). Sweden recorded a double-digit increase in its shipments to Japan (+48%; 439,000 m³). However, it should be noted that in the first half of 2023, Japanese imports were at their lowest since the Holzkurier’s records began in 1998.
| Trade flows incl. planed timber in 1,000 m³ and US-$1 million |
||||||||
| N. | Exporter | Importer | 1–6 2023 in 1,000 m³ | 1–6 2024 in 1,000 m³ | Diff. in % | 1–6 2023 in M. US-$ | 1–6 2024 in M. US-$ | Diff. in % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | USA | 14,079 | 14,571 | 3 | 3,615 | 3,906 | 8 |
| 2 | Russia | China | 5,902 | 5,756 | –2 | 1,206 | 1,209 | 0.3 |
| 3 | Sweden | Great Britain | 1,529 | 1,408 | –8 | 437 | 421 | –4 |
| 4 | Austria | Italy | 1,368 | 1,352 | –1 | 377 | 336 | –11 |
| 5 | Germany | USA | 1,155 | 1,069 | –7 | 323 | 291 | –10 |
| 6 | Russia | Uzbekistan | 821 | 730 | –11 | 139 | 115 | –17 |
| 7 | Canada | China | 879 | 696 | –21 | 161 | 137 | –15 |
| 8 | Sweden | Egypt | 612 | 643 | 5 | 105 | 127 | 20 |
| 9 | Belarus | China | 431 | 620 | 44 | 87 | 117 | 35 |
| 10 | USA | Mexico | 537 | 562 | 5 | 133 | 132 | –1 |
| 11 | Sweden | Netherlands | 575 | 558 | –3 | 160 | 164 | 2 |
| 12 | Sweden | USA | 577 | 556 | –4 | 168 | 162 | –3 |
| 13 | Canada | Japan | 404 | 545 | 35 | 192 | 235 | 23 |
| 14 | Finland | Egypt | 514 | 474 | –8 | 83 | 89 | 8 |
| 15 | Brazil | USA | 494 | 469 | –5 | 127 | 120 | –6 |
| 16 | Latvia | Great Britain | 438 | 465 | 6 | 141 | 145 | 3 |
| 17 | Sweden | Japan | 296 | 439 | 48 | 94 | 137 | 47 |
| 18 | Sweden | Denmark | 443 | 428 | –4 | 118 | 122 | 3 |
| 19 | Germany | Austria | 438 | 420 | –4 | 123 | 115 | –7 |
| 20 | Sweden | Germany | 453 | 415 | –8 | 127 | 120 | –6 |
