|
Report from
North America
Imports of sawn tropical hardwood increased in
January
January imports of sawn tropical hardwood rose 12% over
the previous month as imports from Indonesia were their
strongest in more than 2 years. At 13,851 cubic metres, the
volume imported into the US in January was, however,
15% less than that of the previous January.
The month-to-month gain was due chiefly to a near
quadrupling of imports from Indonesia, which accounted
for almost a third of all imports for the month. Imports
from most other top traders decreased, including
significant drops in imports from Ghana (down 59%),
Brazil (down 56%) and Cameroon (down 48%).
Mahogany imports were especially strong, up 61% for the
month and 38% above a year ago. Imports of Sapelli and
Ipe were especially weak in January with Sapelli dropping
55% to a 2-year low and Ipe imports falling to their lowest
level in at least 10 years.
Canadian imports of sawn tropical hardwood soared in
January, climbing 64% above December totals. Imports
for the month were 30% higher than in January last year.
A nearly seven-fold increase in imports from the
Democratic Republic of the Congo fueled the rise, along
with a 79% jump in imports from top-trader Cameroon.
See: https://apps.fas.usda.gov/gats/default.aspx
and
https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/trade-data-online/en
Hardwood plywood imports weaken
US imports of hardwood plywood fell in volume by 10%
in January. At 236,750 cubic metres, hardwood plywood
imports were down 18% from January 2024 totals. Imports
by dollar value were down 11% versus the previous
month.
The volume of imports from Vietnam, the top trading
partner last year, rose 31% in January while imports from
Indonesia and Malaysia both fell more than 30%. Imports
from China also slumped, falling 29% from the previous
month and down 41% from the previous January.
Veneer imports retreat in January
US imports of tropical hardwood veneer plunged 34% in
January, falling sharply after nearly doubling in
December. Imports from India, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire
all fell by more than 50% while imports from top-supplier
Cameroon fell by 40%. Strong gains in imports from
China and Italy helped to mitigate the harm. The total
imports of US$1.9 million were also 34% below that of
January 2024.
See: https://apps.fas.usda.gov/gats/default.aspx
Imports of flooring start 2025 hot
US imports of hardwood flooring were strong in January
rebounding somewhat from an anemic December and a
12% decline in imports for 2024. January imports leapt
36% from the previous month to more than US$6 million,
which was 20% higher than the previous January.
Imports from China nearly doubled while imports from
Brazil rose 75%. Imports from Indonesia fell 11% from
the previous month but were still 25% higher than in
January 2024.
US imports of assembled flooring panels, which grew by
32% in 2024, continued their upward trajectory in January
rising 12% from the previous month. Imports from
Vietnam and Indonesia made sizeable gains, advancing
69% and 65%, respectively.
Imports from Thailand slipped 6%. At US$33.5 million,
imports for the month were 40% higher than imports from
January 2024.
See: https://apps.fas.usda.gov/gats/default.aspx
US returns to traditional moulding suppliers
US imports of hardwood moulding rose 1% in January as
long-established supply countries showed significant
gains. Imports from Brazil soared 96%, imports from
China climbed 87% and imports from Malaysia jumped
53%.
Imports from these traditional trading partners rose in
2024, but at rates lower than the 29% increase in overall
growth for the year.
Meanwhile, imports from Canada slipped 5% for the
month while imports from the rest of the world fell 13%.
Total imports for January were 47% higher than imports
for January 2024.
Wooden furniture imports continue rising
US imports of wooden furniture rose for the third
consecutive month, gaining 3% in January. At nearly
US$1.88 billion, imports were 8% higher than last January
as imports rose steadily from most trading partner
countries.
Imports from Malaysia jumped 12% in January to a level
27% higher than in January 2024. Imports from top-trader
Vietnam also continued their growth—up 2% over the
previous month and 26% from January 2024. Imports from
India lagged, falling 23% from the previous month—yet
still 8% higher than a year ago.
See: https://usatrade.census.gov/index.php?do=login
Furniture orders showed slight rise in December
New residential furniture orders rose 1% in December
compared to the same period in 2023 according to the
February issue of Furniture Insights,reversing the previous
month's decline. Approximately two-thirds of furniture
dealers surveyed reported increased orders in December
compared to the year prior.
However, compared to November 2024, December new
orders dropped 15%, although that could include some
seasonality due to the December holiday break, according
to Mark Laferriere, assurance partner at Smith Leonard the
accounting and consulting firm that produces the monthly
report. New orders were also down for the year to date, by
1%.
December shipments were down 2% compared to 2023
figures and also down 7% versus November 2024. For the
year 2024 shipments were down 6% compared to 2023.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, sales at furniture and home
furnishings stores were down 1.7% in January compared
to the previous month but up 3.7% from January 2024,
according to the January Furniture Insights.
See: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/furniture/furniture-
orders-show-slight-rise-december-year-over-year
and
https://www.smith-leonard.com/2025/03/03/february-2025-
furniture-insights/
Executive Orders on timber
On 1 March the US President issued executive orders
intended to boost domestic timber production and to
launch an investigation into the national security
implications of US imports of wood products.
The first executive order aims at dramatically increasing
domestic timber production by reducing federal
regulations and expediting approval processes. The order
directs multiple federal agencies to take immediate action
to boost the supply of lumber, paper and bioenergy
products citing national economic security and wildfire
prevention as key priorities.
The Order mandates the Departments of the Interior and
Agriculture to issue new guidance within 30 days to
accelerate timber harvesting on federal lands managed by
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the US
Forest Service (USFS). This includes streamlining forest
management projects under the Endangered Species Act
and proposing legislative measures to further ease
restrictions.
Within 90 days, officials must present a four-year target
for annual timber sales. Additionally, within 180 days the
administration will explore categorical exclusions under
the National Environmental Policy Act to fast-track timber
production and wildfire risk reduction. These directives
represent a sharp shift in federal land management policy,
prioritising economic development over environmental
protections.
In a second executive order the Commerce Secretary was
instructed to lead an investigation into the national
security implications of the nation’s current imports of
timber and manufactured wood products. This will include
looking into demand for wood products in the US,
assessing whether domestic production can meet domestic
demand and the significance of major foreign exporters in
meeting US demand along with any predatory trade
practices that affect the country’s competitiveness in the
industry.
See:https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-
actions/2025/03/immediate-expansion-of-american-timber-
production/
and
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-
actions/2025/03/addressing-the-threat-to-national-security-from-
imports-of-timber-lumber/
|
