Softwood Lumber exports to China Hit the Billion Dollar Mark
Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 3:52 PM
Prince George, B.C.- 2011 was a record setter when it comes to softwood lumber sales to China. For the first time, the value exceeded the $1 Billion dollar mark.
China now accounts for 32 per cent of B.C.’s total volume of exports of softwood lumber. Since 2003, at the start of the joint provincial-federal-industry market development program in China, exports to that country have risen from $69 million to almost $1.1 billion in 2011. In spite of the global economic slowdown, it is expected that B.C. exports of softwood lumber to China will continue to grow in 2012 as the Chinese government pursues its aggressive housing strategy.
Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation says the milestone has been reached through a great deal of work "Our sales to China continue to be phenomenal and a testament to the enormous amount of hard work that has gone into developing the market for wood in China."
Total softwood lumber exports increased by seven per cent last year to $3.8 billion. The United States remains the largest market for B.C. lumber, accounting for almost $1.6 billion of exports.
"With much of the global market still struggling, it is imperative that we focus on those regions where there is growth, in particular Asia" adds Bell. Japan, the recipient of $648 million worth of B.C. lumber in 2011, is the third-largest market followed by South Korea. Exports to South Korea rose by 30 per cent to $55.6 million, while those to India climbed 327 per cent to $10.6 million.
Comments
Sales of British Columbia lumber to China have begun to plunge, a startling reversal from the boom forest products companies enjoyed through much of 2011.
The lumber industry predicts additional growth in 2012 but the current situation is difficult. Inventories of wood are still piled up in China amid a weakening construction market there, sapping demand for B.C. lumber.
In December â traditionally the biggest sales month of the year â B.C. sold just $67-million in lumber to mainland China, according to Statistics Canada figures compiled by BC Stats. Sales were down 36 per cent from a year earlier, and December was the second-slowest month of 2011.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/bc-lumber-sales-to-china-falling-rapidly/article2338474/
cool stuff but this is not news when the auditor general comes out with a report on forestry the same day. http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Province+fails+protect+restore+pine+beetle+ravaged+area+report/6164699/story.html
Thanks for that link, hood rich.
A quote from that article:
“He (the Minister of Forests) was also critical of Doyleâs finding that too much lodgepole pine is being REPLANTED, saying species are chosen for their suitability to the terrain, their hardiness as well as timber production values.”
Okay, can someone who has some knowledge about this tell me why replanted pine would not be attacked by MPB at some future date if the temperature stays warmer than a decade and more ago.
I could swear we have just discovered the lack of hardiness of pine. But hey, I might have misunderstood.
This “big space” thing in the post has happened to me a few times before. I think there’s a little glitch in the site.
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