North American imports of Chinese hardwood plywood reach 113,587 m3 in April, up 39% from March, shipments from Indonesia climb 74% to 45,241 m3: ITTO
Wendy Lisney
YOKOHAMA, Japan
,
July 15, 2014
(International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO))
–
Report from North America
April hardwood plywood imports up, but only from China and Indonesia
Hardwood plywood imports increased by 13% to 249,906 cubic metres in April, however, year-to-date imports were 5% lower than in April 2013.
Imports from China recovered from a steep drop in March. April imports of hardwood plywood from China grew by 39% to 113,587 m³. Indonesian shipments increased to 45,241 m³ (+74%).
Hardwood plywood imports from all other major suppliers – Russia, Ecuador, Canada and Malaysia - declined in April.
Moulding imports from China surpass Brazil’s shipments
Hardwood moulding imports posted another increase in April. The value of imports was US$16.5 million, up 8% from March. Year-to-date imports were 6% higher than in 2013.
At US$5.0 million China was the largest supplier in April, surpassing Brazil‟s shipments worth $4.3 million. Imports from China grew by 34% from the previous month, but they remain below 2013 levels on a year-to-date basis.
Imports from Brazil declined by 4% to US$4.3 million. Year-to-date imports are 13% higher than in 2013. Malaysian shipments were worth $1.3 million in April, up 41% from the previous month.
Both hardwood and assembled flooring imports up in April
US flooring imports improved significantly in April. Imports of assembled flooring panels grew by 11% from March to US$8.5 million. Hardwood flooring imports were US$2.3 million, up 38%.
China shipped US$4.2 million worth of assembled flooring panels to the US (+26%) and $0.6 million of hardwood flooring (+155%). However, year-to-date imports of assembled flooring panels from China are 18% lower than in April 2013.
Assembled flooring panel imports from Canada declined to US$2.3 million in April, while imports from Brazil and Indonesia increased.
Hardwood flooring imports from Indonesia improved from the previous month (US$0.7 million, +34%), but year-todate shipments are one third lower than in 2013.
Source: International Tropical Timber Organization, Yokohama Japan. The full report with tables can be viewed at: http://www.itto.int/g/rqwfnWJsVb18
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