For the first time ever, China is the number-one overseas destination for B.C. lumber in terms of value as well as volume, Minister of Forests, Mines and Lands Pat Bell announced following a record-breaking month and year for exports to China.
B.C. lumber exports to China for 2010 are valued at about $687 million, more than double the value of shipments in 2009 and, for the first time ever, exceed the value of softwood products shipped to Japan.
“We are seeing huge jumps in the value of softwood products going to China as
they continue to place larger orders for higher quality and better grades of
lumber,” Bell said.
“December shipments alone worth nearly $107 million capped a sales year that goes in the ledger as the best ever for B.C. lumber exports to China. It’s the fifth year in a row that we have set new annual highs for both volume and value.”
B.C. exported approximately 4.6 million cubic metres (an estimated 2.8 billion board feet) of softwood lumber products to China in 2010, an increase of 76 per cent from 2009. The newest project in B.C.’s marketing strategy is a demonstration for the March 28-30 Green Building Show in Beijing. A three-storey, nine-unit prefabricated apartment will be assembled in a 72-hour window to highlight the speed and ease of building with wood.
“Thousands of designers, builders and architects will see a full-scale apartment structure created in less than three days from prefabricated walls, floors and trusses,” Bell said, who will attend the Green Building Show.
“This innovative display will ensure wood-frame construction is central to the discussions on solutions for sustainable housing in China.”
Opening up and expanding markets for B.C. wood products, particularly exports
to China, is vital for a stronger and more diversified forest sector.
Quick facts on lumber exports to China, the second-largest market for B.C. lumber.
• December 2010 broke all previous monthly export records with about 667,000 cubic metres of softwood lumber shipped at a value of about $107 million.
This was more than all of 2003.
• The value of lumber exports to China in 2010 was 110 per cent higher than the $328 million shipped in 2009.
• The volume of lumber exports to China in 2010 was 76 per cent higher than the 2.6 million cubic metres shipped in 2009.
• Annual exports are now more than 10 times greater than they were in 2003 when B.C. opened its first office in Shanghai for marketing forest products.
• Of the 20.8 million cubic metres of lumber exported last year, 22 per cent went to China and 59 per cent was shipped to the U.S.
• In 2009, the volume share by destination was 14 per cent to China and 67 per cent to the U.S.