February 2024 exports of Southern Pine lumber (treated and untreated) were up 26.6% over January and started the year up 30.2% YTD over the same two months in 2023, according to November data from the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Services Global Agricultural Trade System. Softwood imports, meanwhile, were up 9% over January and up 11.5% YTD over 2023.
Our international consultants weighed in with the following thoughts on the February 2024 Southern Pine exports.
The port of Baltimore is a substantial waypoint for lumber imports, so there may be a slight dip in imports until traffic lanes are cleared or inbound shipments are rerouted. As to exports, SYP shipments through the port are minimum, so SFPA expects minimal disruptions for most shippers. However, Baltimore is a significant outbound port for hardwoods, so hardwoods shippers should expect delays.
February 2024 Southern Pine Exports Insights
Here are their other key takeaways among countries reporting more than 1 Mbf of imports:
- Mexico retained its status as the largest export market (by volume) of Southern Pine and treated lumber, up 34% over 2023 for the first two months of the year with 23.5 Mbf of imports. That’s broken down by 12.2 Mbf of dry Southern Pine, 9.4 Mbf of rough Southern Pine, and 1.8 Mbf of treated lumber.
- The Dominican Republic, the No. 2 importer of Southern Pine, is running 58% ahead of the same period last year with 17.1 Mbf.
- India’s total of SYP imports continued to surge in February, running 104% ahead of the first two months of 2023 with 5.7 Mbf.
- Exports to China, while up from 982 mbf in January, are down 48% YTD compared to 2023 with 2.9 Mbf of Southern Pine lumber imports.
- The only countries in the Caribbean and Central American region to import more than 1 Mbf through the first two months of 2024, outside of Mexico and the Dominican Republic mentioned above, are:
- Jamacia: down 39% to 5.4 Mbf.
- The Leeward-Windward Islands: down 4% YTD over 2023 with 4.4 Mbf.
- The Bahamas: down 13% to 3.2 Mbf
- The Cayman Islands: up 115% to 1.5 Mbf.
- Haiti: up 452% to 1.3 Mbf compared to 230 mbf last year.
- Trinidad and Tobago: down 57% to 1.1 Mbf.
When looking at countries that have imported more than 1 Mbf so far in 2024, here are what our consultants found:
Trending up:
- Canada: trending higher at 51% over 2023 with 4.3 Mbf imported in January and February.
- Colombia: up 154% over the year with 1.3 Mbf.
- Pakistan: up a sharp 279% with 2.3 Mbf, mostly supported by 1.6 Mbf of imports in February alone led by 1.4 Mbf of treated lumber.
Trending down:
- Belize: down 11% YTD to 1.6 Mbf.
SFPA members: Don’t forget to check out the members-only site to get a full breakdown on every country’s import and export numbers for Southern Pine and treated lumber!
*Note: data are expressed in Million Board Feet (Mbf) unless otherwise indicated.