October 2024 Southern Pine Exports (treated and untreated) were 13% ahead of the same 10-month stretch in 2023, according to October data from the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Services’ Global Agricultural Trade System.
Southern Pine lumber exports were down 23% in October over September 2023 and down 16% over the same month in 2023.
Softwood imports, meanwhile, were down 6.2% over September to 1.2 Mbf but up 6.2% over October 2023.
When looking at the report by dollar value, Southern Pine exports in October were up 7% YTD ahead of the same period in 2023 at $183 million, with Mexico leading the way at $51.9 million, followed by the Dominican Republic at $43.1 million, and India at $13.9 million. Treated lumber exports, meanwhile, are down a slight 2% YTD over 2023 at $113 million led by the Leeward-Windward Islands at $19.2 million, Jamaica with $18 million, and the Dominican Republic at $9 million.
Our international consultants weighed in with the following thoughts on the October 2024 Southern Pine exports.
Here are their other key takeaways among countries reporting more than 1 Mbf of imports through October 2024:
- Mexico remains the largest export market (by volume) of Southern Pine and treated lumber, up 27% YTD over 2023 with 133.5 Mbf of imports.
- The Dominican Republic, the No. 2 importer of Southern Pine, is running 20% ahead of the same period last year with 81.2 Mbf.
- India’s total of SYP imports continues to trend upward, running 5% ahead of 2023 at 30.1 Mbf, led mostly by rough Southern Pine.
- Exports to China continue to plummet, down 51% YTD compared to 2023 with 12.2 Mbf of Southern Pine lumber imports.
- The following countries in the Caribbean and Central American region, outside of Mexico and the Dominican Republic mentioned above, have imported more than 1 Mbf through October 2024:
- Jamaica: the third-largest export market is up 4% with 48.7Mbf.
- The Leeward-Windward Islands: up 10% YTD with 29.8 Mbf.
- The Bahamas: down 6% with 16.9 Mbf.
- Netherland Antilles: up 75% at 9.9 Mbf.
- Belize: up 23% YTD with 5 Mbf.
- Barbados: up 18% for the year at 9.1 Mbf.
- Haiti: down 2% with 8.2 Mbf.
- Trinidad and Tobago: down 10% with 7.7 Mbf.
- The Cayman Islands: up 27% over 2023 to 4.7 Mbf.
- Turks and Caicos: up 28% with 2.8 Mbf.
- El Salvador: 5 Mbf through October, up 1,172% over 2023.
- Panama: up 218% to 2.5 Mbf.
- Costa Rica: up 218% over the year at 1.9 Mbf
- Honduras: down 69% over the year at 1.3 Mbf.
When looking at countries that have imported more than 1 Mbf so far in 2024, here is what our consultants found:
Trending up:
- Canada: trending higher at 28% over 2023 with 23 Mbf so far this year.
- Pakistan: continues to rise, up 101% over the year to 11.8. Mbf.
- Colombia: up 6% over the year with 4.8 Mbf.
- Vietnam: up 483% over the year to 4.2 Mbf.
- Taiwan: up 11% with 4 Mbf.
- Philippines: up 7% with 4 Mbf.
- Egypt: up to 2.6 Mbf for the year, 14% ahead of the same time a year ago.
- France: up 256% to 2.3 Mbf
- United Kingdom: up 21% over 2023 with 1.7 Mbf.
- Peru: the South American country crossed the 1 MBf mark with 1.3 MBF through October, up 933% over 2023.
- Australia: 1 Mbf YTD. That’s down 4% over 2023.
Trending down:
- The Netherlands: down 52% on 2.7 Mbf year to date.
- French Pacific Islands: down 13% with 1.3 Mbf.
- Italy: 1.3 Mbf YTD. That’s down 6% over 2023.
SFPA members: Don’t forget to check out the member portal to get a full breakdown of every country’s import and export numbers for Southern Pine and treated lumber!
*Note: data are expressed in Million Board Feet (Mbf) unless otherwise indicated.