June 2023 Southern Pine lumber exports (treated and untreated) were down 17% over May. Total softwood imports, meanwhile, were also down 6.4% over the same period.
Exports year to date through June, meanwhile, are running 4.7% ahead of the same period in 2022 at 247,874 MMBF and 10% ahead of the same six-month stretch in 2021.
Our international consultants weighed in with the following thoughts on the June 2023 Southern Pine exports. Here are their key takeaways:
JUNE 2023 SOUTHERN PINE EXPORTS NOTES OF INTEREST
Exports to China cooled a little in June but are still up considerably compared to the same period in 2022.
- Worth noting: China has imported more than 2.5 MMBF every month so far in 2023. There was only one month in 2022 where imports were above the 2 MMBF mark (2.3 MMBF in July 2022).
Mexico retained its status as the largest export market (by volume) of Southern Pine and treated lumber for the fourth month after taking over the Dominican Republic, but exports were down in June over the month. While Mexico is running 11% ahead of 2022 YTD as of June and has imported 55.8 MMBF in Southern Pine so far this year compared to the Dominican Republic’s 42 MMBF.
- Worth noting: Exports to Mexico have nearly doubled in the past five years. Mexico has been above the 7 MMBF import mark every month since recording 6 MMBF of imports in March 2022.
India’s total of SYP imports continues to skyrocket over the year.
- Worth noting: India has been above the 1 Mbf import mark every month this year. It only recorded one month above the 1 MMBF mark in all of 2022.
With the exception of Belize, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Mexico, (see below for country totals), exports to the Caribbean and Central American region were down through the first half of 2023 compared to same period in 2022. However, that trend softened in June of this year, with most of the Caribbean nations, except Haiti and Barbados, posting a slowing export rate compared to May 2023.
Trending up of note
- Belize: Up 117% from 2.2 MMBF to 4.8 MMBF. Belize has consistently imported more than 700 thousand board feet (mbf) every month so far this year.
- Micronesia: Up 105% from 1.1 MMBF to 2.2 MMBF. The Pacific Island joined the MMBF club in May, posting a 125% increase over the year from 888 MBF in 2022 to 2 MMBF YTD in 2023.
- Taiwan: Up 72% from 1.5 MMBF to 2.6 MMBF. June exports pushed the island nation up 12% YTD ahead of the same period in 2022.
- Jamaica: Up 51%, from 18.4 MMBF to 27.7 MMBF.
- Dominican Republic: Up 35% YTD (down from May’s 59% YTD) from 31.1 MMBF to 42 MMBF.
Trending down of note
- Philippines: Down 83% YTD, from 9.1 MMBF to 1.6 MMBF so far in 2023. June exports pushed the Philippines back above the MBF figure.
- Pakistan: Down 77% (up from May’s 83% YTD deficient over 2022) from 8.1 MMBF to 1.8 MMBF.
- Netherlands: Down 45% from 5.5 MMBF to 3.1 MMBF in 2023.
- Canada: Down 45% from 18 MMBF to 9.9 MMBF.
- Trinidad and Tobago: Down 12% YTD after running 9% ahead of 2022 through May. The island nation is down from 5.8 MMBF to 5.1 MMBF YTD.
SFPA members: Don’t forget to check out the members-only site to get a full breakdown on every country’s import and export numbers for Southern Pine and treated lumber!