New Zealand emerged as the top softwood log exporter in 2013, says WRI

VANCOUVER (Scrap Monster): According to trade estimates compiled by the Wood Resources International (WRI) for the year 2013, New Zealand has become the world’s top exporter of softwood logs. The log exports from the country accounted for over 20% of the global softwood log trade. Russia and the US were in second and third place respectively. The combined softwood log exports by these three countries constituted more than half of the global traded volume.

As per WRI estimates, the volume of softwood log exports from New Zealand increased dramatically over the past five years. During this period, the exports have almost doubled. Meantime, the value of exports too rose significantly during the five-year period. The average value of log exports touched record highs during this March.

However, domestic log consumption in New Zealand remained almost flat in the past ten years. Despite huge rise in exports, the average local consumption of logs in 2013 by the country was far below the 10-year average domestic consumption.

The largest export destination of New Zealand logs was China. The exports to China accounted for 72% of the total exports from New Zealand. The other major export destinations were South Korea, India and Japan.

The percentage share of exports of unprocessed wood remained high in New Zealand during 2013. During Q4/2013, 57% of the New Zealand’s timber harvest was exported in log form, which is significantly higher when compared with the percentage ratio in other countries across the world.