Analytics, Good for Business, Markets and Companies, Woodwork
International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics
Friday, 29.03.2024, 11:01
The Coronavirus Has Not Stopped the Global Trade of Forest Products
Many commodity products saw reduced trade during March and
April, a result of reduced demand, closures of manufacturing facilities to
protect workers, constraint in the handling capacity of goods at many ports,
and widespread financial distress. However, one sector that has remained fairly
strong during the initial period of the epidemic is the forest products
industry.
Demand for toilet paper, face masks, disinfecting wipes,
corrugated paper for cardboard boxes, and wood products for home renovations
are just a few forest products that have been in unusually high demand in many
countries during this spring.
A closer look at the March 2020 trade data, the first
“Coronavirus month”, reveals that global trade of lumber, logs, wood chips and
pulp increased in March as compared to the previous month.
The following snapshot illustrates a few interesting
examples from the WRQ of positive developments in the forest industry sector
from February to March this year:
• Softwood Logs – China increased imports by 14% m-o-m,
with most of the added logs originating from New Zealand, Germany and Russia.
Log imports to South Korea rose 19%, while Australia and Canada shipped about
70% more logs in March than in the previous month.
• Softwood Lumber – Lumber shipments from New Zealand
and Canada were up 32% and 25% m-o-m, respectively. Lumber importation was up
in most of the major markets in March, including China (+59% m-o-m), the US
(+27%), the United Kingdom (+13%), and Japan (+10%). WRI Market Insights 2020 -
a subscription service from Wood Resources International Global Forest Products
Trade Wood Resources International
• Wood Pulp – Three of the four largest pulp-exporting countries, Brazil, the US and Chile, increased their shipments between 12% and 26% in March (m-o-m). The five top importing countries all purchased more pulp in March than in February, with China and South Korea increasing their volumes the most (40% and 29% respectively).
• Hardwood Chips – China, Portugal, and South Korea
imported more chips for their pulp industry in March than in the previous
month. Most of the major chipexporting countries, including Australia,
Thailand, South Africa, and Brazil shipped more chips in March than in
February. In the coming months, numerous countries around the world are
planning to ease lockdown policies and loosen the rules that are restricting
house constructions, international commerce and consumer shopping. These
changes may further benefit many companies in the forest industry sector.
However, expect a rough road ahead.
- 28.01.2022 BONO aims at a billion!
- 13.02.2021 Моя жизнь в газете. Очерки по новейшей истории Латвии. Глава 1
- 30.12.2020 Накануне 25-летия Балтийский курс/The Baltic Course уходит с рынка деловых СМИ
- 30.12.2020 On the verge of its 25th anniversary, The Baltic Course leaves business media market
- 30.12.2020 Business Education Plus предлагает анонсы бизнес-обучений в январе-феврале 2021 года
- 30.12.2020 EU to buy additional 100 mln doses of coronavirus vaccine
- 30.12.2020 ЕС закупит 100 млн. дополнительных доз вакцины Biontech и Pfizer
- 29.12.2020 В Латвии вводят комендантский час, ЧС продлена до 7 февраля
- 29.12.2020 Latvia to impose curfew, state of emergency to be extended until February 7
- 29.12.2020 Linde Gas открывает завод в Кедайняйской СЭЗ