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Report from
North America
Tropical hardwood product imports fell in August
US imports of tropical hardwood and tropical hardwood
products slowed in August with nearly all categories
seeing a decrease from the previous month.
August imports of sawn tropical hardwood lumber fell
14% from the previous month and 22% below that of
August 2023; imports of hardwood plywood dropped by
4% for the month to a level 24% below the previous
August and imports of tropical hardwood veneer retreated
22%, falling 52% short of the August 2023 total.
Imports of hardwood flooring declined 20% in August—
down 26% from the previous August—while imports of
assembled flooring panels fell only 1% from the previous
month and maintained a level 34% higher than that of
August 2024.
Imports of hardwood moulding also fell only marginally,
losing 2% but remaining a healthy 34% higher than
August of last year. Imports of wooden furniture slid 5%
but held 2% higher August 2023 totals.
Sawn tropical hardwood imports
US imports of sawn tropical hardwood fell 14% in August.
The 15,106 cubic metres of hardwood imported was 22%
less that that imported last August as imports for many
types of hardwoods sank by about 25%. Imports of Balsa,
Sapelli, Ipe, Mahogany, Virola, Cedro and Paduak all fell
between 20-30% from the previous month.
Imports of Keruing rose 54% percent but were still 34%
below that of the previous August and are down 47% year
to date. Imports from Brazil, the top trading nation, were
down 23%, falling sharply for the second straight month.
Total US imports of sawn tropical hardwood are down 7%
so far this year versus last year.
Canada’s imports of sawn tropical hardwood also fell in
August, losing 13% from the previous month. Despite the
drop, the month’s imports were a healthy 51% above that
of August 2023 while imports from Brazil, Cameroon, and
Bolivia are more than 80% higher than last year for the
year so far. Total Canadian imports of tropical hardwood
are up 45% versus 2023 for the year through August.
Hardwood plywood imports slip
US imports of hardwood plywood dipped 4% in August on
declines from it three top trading partners. Imports from
Russia fell 31% in August while imports slipped 14%
from Indonesia and 7% from Vietnam. The 209,888 cubic
metres of plywood imported in August was 24% less than
what was imported the previous August.
As a result, 2024 imports that were earlier greatly
outpacing the previous year, are now only ahead of 2023
by 8% for the year so far. However, imports from Vietnam
and Malaysia remain strong and are up around 80% over
last year’s totals through August.
Veneer imports weaken
July’s surge in US imports of tropical hardwood veneer
appears to be a one-month blip as August figures sank
back to their weak June level. An upsurge in imports from
India could not make up for sharp declines in imports from
Italy, China, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire.
Imports from Italy remain down by nearly three quarters
for the year so far while total veneer imports fell to 14%
below that of 2023 year to date.
Hardwood flooring imports fall to lowest level since
2021
In August, monthly imports of hardwood flooring fell
below US$5 million for the first time since February 2021.
Imports fell for the third straight month, dropping 20%
from the previous month to a level 26% below that of
August 2023. The decline came even though imports from
top trade partner Indonesia rose 18% and other top trade
partners also saw gains. Total imports of hardwood
flooring are down 14% versus last year through August.
US imports of assembled flooring panels took a pause in
August after rising in each of the previous four months.
Imports fell by 1% in August but remained 34% higher
than in August 2023.
Imports from Indonesia more than doubled from the
previous month while imports from China gained 83%.
Total imports continue to outpace those of 2023 by 32%
through August.
Moulding imports slacken
US imports of hardwood moulding took a slight hit for a
second straight month but continue to stay at a level well
above that of last year. Moulding imports fell 2% in
August but remained 34% higher than that of August
2023. Imports from Brazil continue to disappoint, falling
35% in August and down more than 50% for the year so
far. Imports from Malaysia rallied 60% in August but are
still down 7% for the year to date. Total US imports of
hardwood moulding are up 26% versus 2023 through
August.
Wooden furniture imports fall
US imports of wooden furniture fell 5% in in August as
imports from nearly all trade partners slipped. Imports
from Malaysia, China and India all fell more than 10%.
Imports from Mexico saw the only gain but rose less than
1% over the previous month.
The US$1.74 billion imported in August was 2% higher
than that of August 2023. For the year so far, total imports
of wooden furniture remain ahead of last year by 6%.
See: https://usatrade.census.gov/index.php?do=login
Hurricane strikes traditional US furniture and wood
product regions
Hurricane Helene and its aftermath have devastated
communities throughout Western North Carolina and
communities in other Southern states.
Latest estimates have the death toll at more than 160 men
and women — a number sure to rise as hundreds are
reported missing. The furniture, lumber, and cabinet
industries are not immune to these effects.
Woodworking Network has reached out to more than a
dozen small and mid-sized shops throughout communities
such as Asheville, Black Mountain, Canton, Hiddenite,
and other area towns — particularly hard-hit areas — but
as power, internet and cell service is out or limited at best,
few of these local companies have answered their phones
or returned phone calls. Those that have responded have
reported outages, minor damage, and even supply
shortages.
The greatest impact has been on transportation. Hundreds
of roads remain closed, according to the US Department of
Transportation. "Road conditions are becoming clearer in
the affected area, however, travel between western North
Carolina and Tennessee is extremely limited, especially
for trucks. Interstate 40 and I-26 are closed at the
Tennessee/North Carolina line. The estimated repair time
for I-40 is unknown at this time," according to the DOT's
website.
The hurricane's effect has been with companies throughout
the region and companies are in the early stages of
gathering information and figuring out what will be
needed to resume normal operations.
See:
https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-
industry-news/hundreds-hurricane-damaged-roads-still-closed-
or-affected
Negotiations continue as US dockworkers return to
work
Striking dockworkers along the US’s East and Gulf Coasts
agreed to go back to work 3 October after reaching a
tentative agreement with port operators for a 62% wage
increase that extends the current contract providing more
time to bargain over remaining issues. The tentative
agreement to suspend the International Longshoremen's
Association strike may have consumers and businesses
breathing a sigh of relief. Still, the deal is far from done,
according to logistics experts.
The US ports strike suspension, with the International
Longshoreman's Association union and USMX ownership
group reaching a deal on wage increases, still leaves the
contentious issue of port automation to resolve by the 15
January deadline.Many US ports remain laggards on
automation compared to the rest of the world and the
union has used aggressive rhetoric in discussing this.
See: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-
news/dockworkers-union-reach-tentative-agreement-wages-
suspend-strike-talks-rcna173963
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