April 2024 exports of Southern Pine lumber (treated and untreated) were down 12.4% over March but up 2.8% over April 2023, according to April data from the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Services’ Global Agricultural Trade System. Southern Pine lumber exports are running 13% ahead of 2023 YTD. Softwood imports, meanwhile, were down 5.5% over March and flat over April 2023, resulting in a slight 1% lead YTD over last year.
Our international consultants weighed in with the following thoughts on the April 2024 Southern Pine exports:
- Mexico remains the largest export market (by volume) of Southern Pine and treated lumber, up 37% YTD with 48.7 Mbf of imports.
- The Dominican Republic, the No. 2 importer of Southern Pine, is running 18% ahead of last year’s period with 33.9 Mbf.
- India’s total of SYP imports continues to trend upward, 25% ahead of 2023 YTD at 12.2 Mbf. India’s imports are almost evenly split between dressed and rough Southern Pine lumber.
- Exports to China continue to slide, down 56% YTD compared to 2023 YTD with 5.2 Mbf of Southern Pine lumber imports.
- The following countries in the Caribbean and Central American region have imported more than 1 Mbf through April 2024, outside of Mexico and the Dominican Republic mentioned above:
- The Netherlands Antilles: up 158% with 3.5 Mbf.
- The Cayman Islands: up 47% over the year to 2.3 Mbf.
- Turks and Caicos: reached 1 Mbf in April and is now up 32% over the year with 1 Mbf.
- Barbados: up 24% for the year at 3.4 Mbf.
- Belize: up 18% YTD with 9 Mbf.
- The Leeward-Windward Islands: up 15% YTD with 10.7 Mbf.
- Trinidad and Tobago: down 12% with 3.2 Mbf.
- Jamaica: down 11% with 17.2 Mbf.
- The Bahamas: down 12% with 6.7 Mbf
- Haiti: down 43% to 1.5 Mbf.
When looking at countries that have imported more than 1 Mbf so far in 2024, here is what our consultants found:
- Pakistan: continues to rise, up 540% over the year to 5.1 Mbf after 1.1 Mbf of imports in April.
- Colombia: up 85% over the year with 2.7 Mbf.
- Canada: trending higher at 57% over 2023 with 9.3 Mbf so far this year.
- Taiwan: The island nation continues to trend higher, up 51% with 2.4 Mbf YTD.
- Philippines: The Asian nation joined the Mbf in April with 1.1 Mbf imported YTD, up 20% over 2023.
- Egypt: The African country, while down 11% over the year, has imported 1.3 Mbf so far in 2024.
- Netherlands: down 28% over the year with 1.5 Mbf.
SFPA members: Don’t forget to check out the members-only site for 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.