Press release: Increasing trend for North African lumber import

6/9/2016

The North African total import of softwood lumber from leading exporters in Europe amounted to 8.1 million m³ in 2015, resulting in a new record. The import more than doubled compared to 2004. North Africa as a region was the third largest importer in 2015, after U.S. and China. Imports during Q1 2016 increased by 7% compared to Q1 2015 and the trend for the import of softwood lumber from Europe is increasing further. Import from North America is very limited. Egypt is the leading importer in North Africa and represents 60% of the total import in the region. Pine dominates the softwood lumber import in Egypt and it is worth mentioning that Swedish export of pine to Egypt in Q1 2016 amounted to 266,000 m³. That is 32% more than the main importer in Europe; United Kingdom, which imported 201,000 m³ of pine from Sweden during Q1 2016.

Sweden is the main supplier of softwood lumber to North Africa and delivered 609,000 m³ in Q1 2016 (+7% compared to 2015). So far this year imports from Finland are increasing at a much faster rate (+27%). Russian volumes are declining after heavy shipments during 2015 (+38%) and shipments are now directed towards China.

For more information contact:
Jenny Wessung, CEO
Woodstat AB
+46 (0)70 660 40 46
jenny.wessung@woodstat.com
https://www.woodstat.com 


About Woodstat
Since 2007 Woodstat delivers comprehensive statistics and analysis to sawmills, forest owners and banks across the world. Woodstat publishes approximately 400 issues of the newsletter "Market News" every year. The Market News are concise and contain the latest market statistics for the manufactured lumber product industry. Woodstat's charts collection is available at www.woodstat.com and contains hundreds of relevant diagrammatic data for anyone working in the wood or forest industry.