After years of steady growth, the European softwood lumber exports to China had a bad year in 2018. Throughout the year exports European exports were way lower as compared to 2017.
According to the latest Eurostat statistics, softwood lumber delivered to China by the European Union countries were -28% lower in January-November 2018 as compared to the same period of last year. The sharp drop can be mainly attributed to lower exports of the Scandinavian countries, which are China's main European trading partners.
Exports from Finland dropped by -40%, down to 1,960,125 m3, while exports from Sweden decreased by -26%, to only 545,745 m3. Netherlands managed to almost triple deliveries to China, while German exports were down by -21%.
Softwood lumber exported to China from... (in cbm ) |
January-November 2017 |
January-November 2018 |
Change in % |
|
2,719,160 |
1,960,125 |
-28 % |
|
1,469,123 |
885,118 |
-40 % |
|
735,074 |
545,745 |
-26 % |
|
46,065 |
121,494 |
164 % |
|
123,776 |
97,404 |
-21 % |
|
9,988 |
70,564 |
606 % |
|
335,134 |
239,800 |
-28 % |
|
739 |
490 |
-34 % |
|
739 |
490 |
-34 % |
TOTAL |
2,719,899 |
1,960,615 |
-28 % |