Southern pine lumber exports increased by 4.7% in February, Chinese importers need to pay attention to supply chain fluctuations

The export volume of southern pine in the United States in February increased by 4.7% month-on-month to 40.8 million board feet, but still decreased by 15% year-on-year. The sharp drop in the export of antiseptic materials by 8% has impacted the supply of the Caribbean market. Chinese importers can seize the current FOB price window period but need to guard against the risk of price rebound caused by the rebuilding of North American inventory in Q3.
Top view of colorful shipping containers at a bustling port in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Southern pine lumber exports increased by 4.7% in February

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Trade System data,Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA)Supplementary analysis: Southern pine wood (including antiseptic and untreated wood) export volume in FebruaryMonth-on-month growth of 4.7%To 40.8 million board feet, but still down 15% from the same period last year.

LumberFlow Expert Interpretation

China-related impact:Although Mexico (US$8.4 million), the Dominican Republic (US$6.7 million) and Canada (US$3.3 million) were the main export markets, the total global export value reached a five-month high of US$16.5 million, indicating potential replenishment demand in the Asian market. Chinese importers should pay attention to:

  • Exports of anti-corrosion materials fell by 8% year-on-year to US$18.3 million, mainly to Jamaica (US$3 million) and the Leeward Islands (US$2.6 million) in the Caribbean, which may squeeze the allocation of anti-corrosion treatment capacity to the Chinese market.
  • The current downward trend in FOB prices (down 4% in the first two months) creates a short-term bargaining window for Chinese buyers, but they should be wary of a Q3 price rebound caused by North American inventory rebuilding.

Share to:

文章二维码

Scan the QR code on WeChat to share this article

More Articles

Close-up Photo of Monitor

Potential impact of the expected adjustment of the US housing market on the global wood supply chain and strategic opportunities for Chinese importers

Fannie Mae's latest economic outlook reveals that U.S. single-family home sales are expected to reach 4.92 million in 2025, and mortgage rates are expected to drop to 6.1%. GDP growth is forecast to be 0.7%. What does this report reveal about global lumber demand and prices? How should Chinese importers adjust their strategies? LumberFlow provides you with an in-depth analysis.

A business professional analyzing stock charts on a laptop and smartphone at the office.

In-depth analysis: US new home sales surged by 10.9%, chain reaction on China's wood supply chain and price index outlook

The annualized sales rate of new single-family homes in the United States in April 2025 reached 743,000 units, a surge of 10.9% from the previous month, indicating strong demand for domestic wood. LumberFlow experts pointed out that this move may lead to a tightening of the supply of US wood exports to China (potential reduction of 5-10% is expected), and the pressure of FOB price increases will be transmitted within 2-3 months. It is recommended that Chinese importers optimize their procurement portfolio, consider increasing supply from Canada, Europe and other places, and adopt strategic inventory management and forward contracts to lock in prices, while paying close attention to market intelligence to respond to changes.

Close-up of stock market chart showing trends and data on a digital screen.

Canadian lumber price index plunges: in-depth analysis of April market dynamics and strategic implications for Chinese importers

The latest data from Statistics Canada shows that both the industrial product and raw material price indexes fell in April. Among them, the price of lumber and other wood products fell by 4.4% month-on-month, and the price of cork plummeted by 11.1%, the largest monthly drop since June 2022. Potential tariff risks have caused buyers to postpone purchases, creating downward pressure on prices.

The story of North American forest products giants (Part 1): Weyerhaeuser, West Fraser, and Café-Rodriguez’s century-old foundation and the Chinese market

North America has one of the most extensive and high-quality forest resources in the world. On this land, a number of world-class forest product companies were born. They have gradually developed from the initial logging camps into multinational giants with businesses all over the world. Their growth history is not only a magnificent business epic, but also a struggle history of constant game with natural resources, market changes, and technological innovation. As the opening of a series of articles, this article will focus on three industry leaders with a long history and far-reaching influence: Weyerhaeuser, West Fraser, and Canfor.

Subscribe to our newsletter

en_USEnglish
zh_CN简体中文 en_USEnglish
Scroll to Top