West coast log, lumber exports in first 9 months of 2011 surpass 2010 totals (China needs our wood!)

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http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-11/ufs--wcl112111.php

Public release date: 21-Nov-2011

Contact: Sherri Richardson Dodge
[e-mail]
503-808-2137
http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw">USDA Forest Service - Pacific Northwest Research Station

West coast log, lumber exports in first 9 months of 2011 surpass 2010 totals

Increased shipments to China cited as primary reason

PORTLAND, Ore. November 21, 2011. Log and lumber exports from Washington, Oregon, northern California, and Alaska in the first three quarters of 2011 already surpass the total exports of 2010 according to the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station.

"The increasing shipments to China are the main driver of the hike in log and lumber exports from the west coast," says Xiaoping Zhou, a research economist with the station. "The log exports to China in 2010 (664.2 million board feet) was over 40 times of that in 2005 (15.8 million board feet). The lumber exports to China during the same period expanded 76 percent from 98.5 million board feet in 2005 to 173.5 million board feet in 2010. And this trend continues in 2011."

The total log shipment value in the first 9 months of 2011 was $1,036 million compared to $844 million total in 2010. The lumber export value this year from January to September was $528 million, which surpasses the total lumber shipment value of $509 million in 2010.

Zhou compiled the statistics from the U.S. International Trade Commission and Production, Prices, Employment, and Trade in Northwest Forest Industries, a station publication that provides current information on the region's lumber and plywood production prices as well as employment in forest industries. The 2010 report is available online at http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/38431.

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