|
Report from
North America
Sawn tropical hardwood imports fall
Imports of sawn tropical hardwood fell 12% in June as
volumes retreated from a near record high. The 24,229
cubic metres imported in June was the second lowest total
of the year so far. Imports of Keruing and Mahogany fell
by 22% while imports of Sapelli and Ipe decreased by 7%
and 16%, respectively. Imports of lower-volume woods
like Meranti, Iroko, and Padauk were all down more than
50%.
Imports from Indonesia and Cameroon both decreased by
more than one-third while imports from Malaysia were off
by 14%. Imports from Congo (Brazzaville) gained 43% in
June, rising to their best month of the year along with
imports from Ghana which improved by 140%.
Despite the dip, total imports of sawn tropical hardwood
remain up 211% so far this year. However, changes made
this year by the US government in how it classifies
tropical hardwoods make direct comparison with last year
difficult.
Canada increased its imports of sawn tropical hardwood
for the fifth straight month in June. The more than US$2.5
million imported was the highest total since August 2014.
The increase was driven by a huge month for Iroko
imports. More Iroko was imported into Canada in June
than in all of 2021. Overall imports are up 40% year to
date over 2021 figures.
Hardwood plywood imports continue downward
US imports of hardwood plywood fell for a third straight
month, declining by 9% in June. The 296,900 cubic
metres imported was the lowest volume month of the year
and was 2.3% less than the previous June. mports from
Russia continued their decline, plunging 51% in June to
their lowest level since February 2013.
Imports from Indonesia and Malaysia both fell more than
40%, while imports from Vietnam and China rebounded
strongly from poor volume in May. Year to date, imports
from Russia are still up 4%, but most every other trading
partner is showing much larger gains in 2022. Overall
volume is up 41% through the first half of the year.
Veneer imports advance
Imports of tropical hardwood veneer rose 8% in June as
imports from Cameroon leapt to their highest totals in
more than four years. Imports from Italy also gained
sharply while imports from India, Ghana and Cote d¡¯Ivoire
all retreated by more than half.
Total imports are up 31% through the first half of 2022,
with nearly all trading partners showing gains of 10% or
more. Imports from Cote d¡¯Ivoire are the exception, down
14% versus last year through June.
Hardwood flooring imports tumble
Imports of hardwood flooring came back to earth in June
after a record showing in May. Imports declined 21%,
mostly due to a steep drop in imports from lower-volume
supply countries such as Vietnam and a 7% drop in
imports from Malaysia.
Imports from the top US trading partners either stayed
level (Brazil down less than 1%) or improved (Indonesia
up 70%, China up 10%). Total imports are ahead of last
year 14% through the first half of 2022.
Imports of assembled flooring panels gained 6% in June.
Imports from Brazil more than doubled while imports
from Indonesia grew by 70%. This was offset to some
degree by declines of around 20% in imports from China
and Thailand.
Total imports of assembled flooring panels are up 57%
through the first half of the year as imports from Brazil are
more than double that of 2021 so far and imports from
Thailand are up more than fourfold.
Moulding imports remain flat
Imports of hardwood mouldings rose a modest 2% in June.
Imports from Brazil and China rose sharply to rebound
from weak May numbers. Imports from top supplier
Canada did just the opposite, falling 15%, continuing an
up and down pattern we¡¯ve seen all year.
Despite the volatility by countries each month, imports are
up sharply among all suppliers year to date. Through the
first half of the year, total imports are ahead by 38% over
2021 with imports from Brazil up 86%, China up 54%,
and Canada up 36%.
Wooden furniture imports retreat
After setting an all-time record in May, US imports of
wooden furniture fell by 7% in June. Despite the retreat,
the US$2.33 billion of goods imported was more than 5%
higher than the previous June and among the strongest
months ever.
Imports fell from nearly every major partner with imports
from India, Malaysia and Vietnam seeing the steepest
declines. Still, total imports of wooden furniture are up
10% through the first half of 2022 with all major trading
partners ahead of 2021 totals.
Lower duties on Canadian sawnwood, Canada wants
them removed
The Commerce Department ruled this month that the tariff
applied to some Canadian sawn softwood imports will
drop to 8.59% from 17.91%. Canada¡¯s government said
the US tariffs have caused ¡°unjustified harm¡± to the
industry and workers.
The Trump administration imposed tariffs on Canadian
softwood lumber in 2017 saying the industry is unfairly
subsidised. The US raised rates on imports in 2021 even as
an unprecedented rally lifted prices to record highs during
a pandemic-fueled homebuilding and renovation boom.
¡°Canada is disappointed that the United States continues
to impose unwarranted and unfair duties,¡± International
Trade Minister Mary Ng said in a statement.
¡°While the duty rates will decrease from the current levels
for the majority of exporters, the only truly fair outcome
would be for the United States to cease applying baseless
duties.¡±
See:
https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworkingindustry-news/war-words-over-continuing-lumber-tariffs
| 
