Volume and value of West coast log, lumber exports down in 2015

Volume and value of West coast log, lumber exports down in 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. March 22, 2016. The latest data summarizing West coast log and lumber exports in the fourth quarter of 2015 were released today by the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station. The data—covering exports during October, November, and December 2015—were compiled and analyzed by Xiaoping Zhou, a research economist with the station.

2015 Fourth Quarter Highlights

                                        Volume of West Coast Log and Lumber Exports, 2015 Q4

	Current Quarter  (2015 Q4)	Change Compared to Last Quarter (2015 Q3)	Change Compared to Last Year (2014 Q4)
Logs	340 MMBF*	10.9%	5.5%
Lumber	155 MMBF*	2.5%	-8.8%

* Million board feet.                                                                      

                                        Value of West Coast Log and Lumber Exports, 2015 Q4

	Current Quarter  (2015 Q4)	Change Compared to Last Quarter (2015 Q3)	Change Compared to Last Year (2014 Q4)
Logs	$231 million	8.6%	-9.6%
Lumber	$115 million	2.5%	-9.7%

2015 Annual Highlights

                                        Volume of West Coast Log and Lumber Exports in 2015

	Current Year (2015)	Change Compared to Last Year (2014)
Logs	1,248 MMBF*	-26.8%
Lumber	656 MMBF*	-26.4%

* Million board feet.      

                                        Value of West Coast Log and Lumber Exports in 2015

	Current Year (2015)	Change Compared to Last Year (2014)
Logs	$884 million	-32.5%
Lumber	$489 million	-25.5%

China decreased its West coast log and lumber imports in 2015 as a result of its domestic economic and national restructuring adjustment, but the country remains the leading market for West coast wood products, Zhou said. About 59 percent of the West coast’s log exports and 31 percent of its lumber exports went to China in 2015. 

Trends to Date  

According to Zhou, the percentage of West coast log and lumber exports relative to total U.S. exports has decreased in recent years because more exports are coming from other districts, such as New York City and Norfolk, Virginia.

The Pacific Northwest Research Station—headquartered in Portland, Ore.—generates and communicates scientific knowledge that helps people make informed choices about natural resources and the environment. The station has 11 laboratories and centers located in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon and about 300 employees. Learn more online at http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw.

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