Exports of Southern Pine lumber (treated and untreated) continue to outpace 2023, up 16% through August. They also were up 27% over August 2023 and up 23.9% over July, according to August data from the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Services’ Global Agricultural Trade System.
August reversed a two-month slide in Southern Pine exports, marking the third-highest total in 2024.
Softwood imports, meanwhile, were down 4.3% in August over 2023 and down 3.8% over July.
When looking at the report by dollar value, Southern Pine exports between January and August 2024 are running 8% ahead of the same period in 2023 at $149.7 million, with Mexico leading the way at $42.3 million, followed by the Dominican Republic at $35.9 million, and India at $11.9 million. Treated lumber exports, meanwhile, are nearly flat over the year at $92.5 million led by Jamaica with $16.3 million, the Leeward-Windward Islands at $13.8 million, and the Dominican Republic at $7.3 million.
Our international consultants weighed in with the following two main thoughts on the August 2024 Southern Pine exports:
- The three-day union port strike is resolved, but the residual effects will be felt for another week or so until the transportation pipeline at the ports (anchored cargo ships and stacked containers on the docks) clears up.
- It’s also worth noting the European Commission has proposed delaying the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) through 2025 thanks to international pressure, including the World Trade Organization. SFPA has been monitoring the legislation and will continue to do so as the regulation is tweaked over the coming year. EUDR, as currently written, would essentially cut off Southern Pine exports to the EU.
Here are their other key takeaways among countries reporting more than 1 Mbf of imports through August 2024:
- Mexico remains the largest export market (by volume) of Southern Pine and treated lumber, up 35% YTD over 2023 with 105.5 Mbf of imports.
- The Dominican Republic, the No. 2 importer of Southern Pine, is running 18% ahead of the same period last year with 67 Mbf.
- India’s total of SYP imports continues to trend upward, running 13% ahead of 2023 at 26 Mbf, led mostly by rough Southern Pine.
- Exports to China continue to plummet, down 53% YTD compared to 2023 with 9.9 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 July 2024:
- Jamaica: the third-largest export market is up 10% with 39.7 Mbf.
- The Leeward-Windward Islands: flat YTD with 22 Mbf.
- The Bahamas: down 6% with 13.6 Mbf.
- Netherland Antilles: up 146% at 8.7 Mbf.
- Belize: up 39% YTD with 4 Mbf.
- Haiti: up 25% with 7.1 Mbf.
- Barbados: up 25% for the year at 7.3 Mbf.
- Trinidad and Tobago: down 20% with 6.1 Mbf.
- The Cayman Islands: up 45% over 2023 to 4.1 Mbf.
- Turks and Caicos: up 37% with 2.3 Mbf.
- Panama: up 293% to 2.2 Mbf.
- Costa Rica: joined the Mbf club in August with 1.8 Mbf. That’s up 102% over the year.
- Honduras: also joined the Mbf club in August with 1 Mbf. That’s still down 69% over the year.
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 29% over 2023 with 18.4 Mbf so far this year.
- Pakistan: continues to rise, up 173% over the year to 9.9 Mbf.
- Colombia: up 23% over the year with 4.3 Mbf.
- Taiwan: up 29% with 3.8 Mbf.
- Philippines: up 31% with 2.6 Mbf.
- Vietnam: up 759% over the year to 3.4 Mbf.
- Egypt: up to 1.9 Mbf for the year, 4% ahead of the same time a year ago.
- France: up 295% to 2.2 Mbf
- United Kingdom: up 23% over 2023 with 1.5 Mbf.
Trending down:
- The Netherlands: down 50% on 2.4 Mbf year-to-date.
- French Pacific Islands: down 14% with 1.2 Mbf.
SFPA members: Don’t forget to check out the members-only site 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.