Southern pine lumber exports fell by 2%, tariffs and supply chain risks attracted market attention

Southern pine lumber exports fell by 2% in November 2023, down 15.3% month-on-month. Although the overall export value is still growing, market instability, tariffs and supply chain risks have aroused the concern of Chinese importers.

Release time:January 29, 2025

according toUSDAThe global agricultural trade system of foreign agricultural services andSouthern Forest Products Association (SFPA)Further analysis by the , southern pine (including treated and untreated wood) exports in the first 11 months of 2024 increased by 10% compared to the same period last year.

On a monthly basis, southern pine exports fell by 15.3% year-on-year and 2% month-on-month in November 2024. Total exports in November were 39.8 million board feet (MMBF), the second lowest this year, second only to 37.9 million board feet in January.

Softwood lumber imports also declined, down 2.41 TP3T from November 2023 and down 41 TP3T from October 2023. So far, softwood lumber imports are 11.1 million board feet, 21 TP3T below the level in the first 11 months of 2023.

According to the SFPA report, from January to November, southern pine lumber exports increased by 5% over the same period in 2023, reaching $197.3 million. Mexico remained the largest market, with exports of $54.6 million, followed by the Dominican Republic ($45.7 million) and India ($15 million). Treated lumber exports were almost flat for the year, reaching $122.7 million, mainly exported to the Leeward-Windward Islands ($21.2 million), Jamaica ($19 million) and the Netherlands Antilles ($9.5 million).

LumberFlow Expert Interpretation

The decline in southern pine lumber exports is closely related to tariffs and supply chain risks, which may affect the purchasing decisions of Chinese importers. Although southern pine lumber exports were strong at the beginning of the year, the decline in November shows the instability of the market. Importers should pay attention to future price fluctuations, which may affect their procurement costs. At the same time, considering the reduction in exports to the North American market, China's timber supply may be affected. It is recommended to plan procurement strategies in advance to deal with possible supply chain risks.

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