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Report from
North America
US hardwood plywood imports - trend remains
unpredictable
US imports of hardwood plywood rebounded soundly in
July, continuing the monthly up-and-down pattern of the
last few months. At 320,803 cubic metres, July imports
were up 14% from the previous month and a robust 47%
from July 2024.
Imports from Russia rose 63% in July while imports from
Malaysia and Cambodia both jumped 72%. Imports from
the largest suppliers showed more modest gains.
Imports from Indonesia increased by 23% while imports
from Vietnam edged up 6%. Through July, total import
volume of hardwood plywood into the US is up 24% over
last year.
Imports of sawn tropical hardwood also unpredictable
After plunging 21% in June, US imports of sawn tropical
hardwood rose 6% in July, as this market goes through the
same monthly gyrations as plywood imports. But unlike
hardwood plywood imports, the average for the year isn’t
outperforming last year.
At 16,220 cubic metres, import volume for July 2025 was
8% less than in July of last year. Rising imports from
Brazil (up 18%), Ecuador (up 22%) and Cameroon (up
13%) more than made up for declines in imports from
Malaysia, Ghana, Indonesia, Peru and Congo
(Brazzaville). Imports of Cedro, Jatoba, Mahogany and
Ipe all rebounded sharply after falling in June. Year to
date, total imports of sawn tropical hardwood are about the
same as last year, up less than 1% through July.
In Canada, imports of sawn tropical hardwood rose 3% in
July over the previous month but were 35% lower than the
previous July.
Imports from top-supplier Cameroon rebounded sharply in
July, rising 55% while imports from Congo (Brazzaville)
surged to their highest level in nearly six years.
Veneer imports bounce back sharply
US imports of tropical hardwood veneer rose 29% in July,
rebounding from a 20% drop in June. At US$3.1 million,
the monthly total was 8% higher than for July 2024.
A 51% increase in imports from top-supplier Cameroon
and an 80% jump in imports from Cote d’Ivoire fueled the
rise, despite declines from other major suppliers and the
continuing month-to-month volatility in imports from Italy
(down 95% in July).
Through July, total imports of tropical hardwood veneer
are up 5% from the previous year.
Moulding imports fall
US imports of hardwood mouldings fell 3% in July,
retreating for a second straight month after reaching a 3-
year high in May. At US$15.1 million, July imports were
7% higher than last July despite the dip.
An 18% rise in imports from China helped avoid a sharper
monthly decline as imports from top-supplier Canada fell
10% in July and imports from Malaysia dropped 25%.
For the year so far, total imports of hardwood mouldings
are up 19% over last year.
Hardwood flooring imports surged in July
US imports of hardwood flooring, which have lagged for
most of the year, jumped 71% in July as imports from
Malaysia surged. At US$7.3 million, July imports were
their highest in 14 months and 18% higher than in July
2024.
Imports from Malaysia more than tripled, rising to their
highest level of the past 10 years. Imports from Brazil,
which have been down sharply all year, rallied in July to
the level we are more used to seeing.
Despite the solid month, year-to-year imports from Brazil
are still down 42% versus last year and overall US imports
of hardwood flooring are down 11% through July.
US imports of assembled flooring also rose in July after
three months of declines. However, the rise was only 4%,
imports from top-supplying countries were all down, and
the monthly total remained well below that of the previous
year.
At US$20.4 million, July imports were 34% less than in
July 2024. A 159% gain in imports in China drove the
monthly rise as imports from top-traders Canada,
Indonesia, and Vietnam all fell. Total imports for the year,
which this spring were well ahead of last year, were up
only 5% over last year through July.
US wooden furniture imports rise
US imports of wooden furniture rose 4% in July, moving
upward for the second consecutive month. At US$1.69
billion, imports for the month were 8% below those of
July 2024. Imports from China rose 74%, rebounding after
a couple of very slow months, while imports from India
and Mexico both showed solid gains. Imports from
Canada and Malaysia both declined by 2%.
Through July, total imports of wooden furniture were
down 2% versus last year.
In June, the US furniture market trended downward,
according to the latest Furniture Insights published by
Smith Leonard. new orders for June were down 9%
compared with May but up 3% versus June 2024. For the
first half of the year, new furniture orders for 2025 were
down 2% from last year.
See: https://www.smith-leonard.com/2025/09/02/august-2025-
furniture-insights/
US Tariff Update
An appeals court ruled that most of the recent US tariffs
are illegal. The ruling from the US Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit focused on the "reciprocal" tariffs
imposed in April, as well as separate tariffs on China,
Canada and Mexico that the administration put in place
citing emergency powers granted under a 1970s-era law.
The court's decision does not impact other tariffs,
authorised under different authorities, such as taxes on
imported steel and aluminum.
The appeals court ruled that the president had overstepped
his authority in invoking the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose most of the
tariffs. The act from the 1970s gives the president the
power to respond to "unusual and extraordinary" threats at
times of national emergencies.
The divided appeals court, which split 7 to 4, said the
IEEPA does not give a president the power to impose such
sweeping tariffs. The court’s ruling keeps tariffs in place
until at least October 14, with analysts expecting the
Supreme Court to hear the administration’s appeal.
Barring an expedited hearing, a decision is unlikely before
November and possibly not until mid-2026. .
White House offers exemptions
On September 5, President Trump signed an executive
order offering some tariff exemptions to trading partners
who strike deals on industrial exports such as nickel, gold
and other metals, as well as pharmaceutical compounds
and chemicals and some wood products that don’t grow in
the US.
His latest order identifies more than 45 categories for zero
import tariffs from "aligned partners" who clinch
framework pacts to cut Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs and
duties imposed under the Section 232 national security
statute.
The order brings US tariffs in line with its commitments in
existing framework deals, including those with allies such
as Japan and the European Union. A White House official
said it also creates new carve outs for some agricultural
products, aircraft and parts, and non-patented articles for
use in pharmaceuticals.
In situations where a country has struck a "reciprocal"
trade deal with the United States, this will allow the US
Trade Representative, the Commerce Department and
customs to waive tariffs on covered imports without a new
executive order from Trump, the official said.
Steep tariffs on India take effect
Steep US tariffs on a range of products from India took
effect on August 27, threatening a serious blow to India’s
overseas trade in its largest export market.Trump had
initially announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods.
But in August he signed an executive order imposing an
additional 25% tariff due to India’s purchases of Russian
oil, bringing the combined tariffs imposed by the US on its
ally to 50%.
The Indian government estimates the tariffs will impact
US$48.2 billion worth of exports. Officials have warned
the new duties could make shipments to the US
commercially unviable, triggering job losses and slower
economic growth. The tariffs will not impact all sectors
uniformly, pharmaceuticals, energy products and
electronics remain exempt.
See: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trumps-50-
tariffs-on-india-over-russian-oil-purchases-take-effect/ar-
AA1Li6e9?ocid=BingNewsVerp
and
https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/topstories/us-tariffs-on-india-
from-august-27-exports-worth-48-bn-to-be-hit-says-commerce-
ministry-here-s-a-list-of-affected-sectors/ar-
AA1LeZFG?ocid=BingNewsVerp
and
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/trump-signs-order-
offering-some-tariff-exemptions-to-countries-with-us-trade-
deals/ar-AA1LZmrH?ocid=BingNewsVerp
and
https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/09/fact-sheet-
president-donald-j-trump-modifies-the-scope-of-reciprocal-
tariffs-and-establishes-procedures-for-implementing-trade-deals/
Interfor curtails production across all North American
regions
Interfor, a forest products company specialising in the
production and sale of various lumber and wood products
based in Canada, has announced a reduction in its North
American lumber production by approximately 145
million board feet between September and December of
2025, representing approximately 12% of its normal
operating capacity.
The temporary curtailments will be through a combination
of reduced operating hours, prolonged holiday breaks,
reconfigured shifting schedules and extended maintenance
shut-downs.
The curtailments are expected to impact all of Interfor’s
operating regions, with both the Canadian and U.S.
operations expected to reduce their production levels by
approximately 12% each.
The curtailments are in response to persistently weak
market conditions and ongoing economic uncertainty. The
company states it will continue to monitor market
conditions across all of its operations and adjust its
production plans accordingly.
See: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/canadian-
news/interfor-curtails-production-across-all-north-american-
regions
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