U.S. Softwood Lumber Demand to Hit All-Time High

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): A recent study conducted by ForestEdge in partnership with the Wood Resources International (WRI) foresees U.S. lumber consumption to rise sharply over the next decade to touch all-time high by 2030. Also, Canada will continue to remain as the primary supplier of softwood lumber during this period. The report predicts substantial jump in export volumes from the Eastern provinces.

The study report titled ‘Future Suppliers of Softwood Lumber to the US Market – Supply and Demand Outlook 2017-2030’ foresees uncertainty surrounding log availability in the Eastern provinces. The timber harvests on B.C. public lands are likely to report notable decline over the next decade. The Western region and the Eastern provinces are likely to witness drop in Annual Allowable Cuts (AACs). Despite this, the softwood round production in Eastern Canada is expected to increase in future.

The increasing harvests across coastal B.C. region and the projected decline in log export volume to the Pacific Rim are likely to augment log supplies to local sawmills. Although, the infestation of the Mountain Pine Beetle in interior B.C. region will likely come to an end, the harvest levels are projected to drop over the next decade, the study pointed out.

The rising domestic lumber consumption in the U.S will lead to further investments in lumber production capacities within the U.S. It must be noted that several leading Canadian lumber companies have already boosted their U.S. mill activity during recent years.