24 WESTERN PALLET
The Global Forest Industry in the 1Q/2019
Global Timber Markets
• The global flow of softwood logs from countries with a surplus of wood raw material to regions with tight, or costly log supply, and higher consumption of forest products continued to expand for the third consecutive year in 2018.
• Sawlog prices fell throughout the world in the 1Q/19 due to either plentiful supply or reduced demand for lumber, depending on region. The Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) fell 1.8% to the lowest level noted since the 2Q/17.
Global Lumber Markets
• In 2018, global trade of softwood lumber reached the second highest level ever recorded.
• The free fall of lumber prices in the US came to a halt in early 2019, and prices
might have hit a low for this cycle in January.
• Softwood lumber exports from Canada were down 6% year-over-year in 2018,
with the biggest decline being in shipments to China.
• For the first time in five years, Swedish exports of softwood lumber fell year-over-year in 2018. The biggest declines were in exports to Asia and Middle East region,
while shipments to the European market remained practically unchanged.
• Despite much uncertainty in the near future for the Chinese economy, lumber
imports rose unexpectedly in the 1Q/19 by as much as 14%.
• Russia increased exports of softwood lumber by 7% from 2017 to 2018. This was the sixth consecutive year that exports have increased from the previous year.
Excerpts from the Wood Resource Quarterly (www.WoodPrices.com).
The Membership Drive Is On!
This year's membership drive is now underway, and as always, the competition will be intense.
In addition to valuable cash prizes, the winner now also receives the membership plaque, presented at the Annual Meeting. With the highly successful 2019 Annual Meeting now in the books, it is time to work toward 2020.
When you recruit new members, the entire WPA membership is the winner!
New members can join and pay on the website. Here is the link: www.westernpallet.org