WOOD PRODUCTS AND PANELS

www.euwid-wood-products.com · 28.04.2021

ISSUE 16/2021 OF 21.04.2021 PAGE 1

Less sawnwood imported

by USA from Europe

In February 2021, the USA imported a total of 191,532 m³ (Feb. 2020: 200,602 m³) of sawn softwood from the EU
(EU-27), roughly 5 % less than a year earlier. The latest data from the US Department of Agriculture, Foreign
Agriculture Service (FAS) of Washington, D.C., shows sharply contrasting development in the import figures for the
individual European countries. For the imports from Germany, for example, the FAS recorded an increase of 47 % to
114,771 m³ (78,138 m³). Germany’s share of the total EU imports is up from 39 % in the same month of last year to the
present 60 %. Growth against last year was also recorded in imports from Romania (+89 % to 28,023 m³) and Austria
(+18 % to 20,347 m³). In contrast, the volume imported from Sweden was just about a seventh of last year’s figure at
9,902 m³ (72,662 m³).

In spite of the reduction in February, the volume of sawn softwood imported by USA from Europe in the first two months
of this year was roughly 19 % higher than a year earlier at 494,084 m³ (Jan.-Feb. 2020: 416,295 m³). Roughly 51 % (46
%) of the imported volume or 251,492 m³ (189,462 m³) was accounted for by Germany (+33 %). Although Sweden
remains at second place with 76,623 m³ (113,329 m³), a reduction of roughly a third arose against last year due to the
low February figures. According to information from Swedish shippers, whole shiploads of sawn softwood for the USA
were handled again in March, leading to expectations that the import figures for that month will be at least on par with
last year’s level.

From what European exporters say, the high level of exports to the USA is going to be maintained for the time being. In
spite of the sharp rise in sawn-softwood prices in Europe too, recently, the export volumes to the USA planned for
April/May are more or less on par with or partly higher than the figures for 2020. The prices European shippers can
obtain in the USA are still well above US$1,000/1,000 bdft ex mill and therefore also higher than those on other sales
markets.

Licensed for Pablo Carrasco CMPC MADERAS S.A.

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