Friday, January 22, 2016
Total exports of U.S. softwood lumber to India reached USD 10.5 million in the first eleven months of 2015, according to a statement issued by American Softwoods (AMSO), the promotional partnership formed by three major U.S. softwood trade associations. The 13 percent increase in the value of American softwood lumber exported to India is in line with an overall increase in the global trade of softwood lumber. According to Wood Resource Quarterly, softwood lumber trade increased during the first nine months of 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014 and was on track to reach its highest level since 2006. Confident of further growth in India, AMSO has announced its participation at INDIAWOOD 2016, which will be held at the Bangalore International Exhibition Center, Bangalore, India, from February 25 to 29, 2016.
A closer look at the latest data released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) revelaed that the total value of treated American softwood lumber exported to India for the period of January to November 2015 topped USD 1.27 million. In terms of species, Southern Yellow Pine and Douglas fir accounted for 59 percent and 18 percent respectively of the total value of U.S. softwood lumber exports to India. Particularly encouraging is the fact that exports of U.S. softwood logs to India declined from USD 27.28 million to USD 10.76 million for the same time period, despite India becoming the world’s fourth-largest industrial roundwood importer, overtaking Austria and Finland, in 2014.
“According to a recent market report, India’s trade deficit in forest products soared from USD 1 billion in 2001 to more than USD 5 billion in 2011. Further, owing to the scarcity of domestic timber resources and a rapidly growing demand, log imports in India have doubled since 2006 in order to meet the country’s growing appetite for wood products,” said Charles Trevor, Consultant to American Softwoods. “Whilst India’s growth trajectory of imports will not follow China’s explosive pattern, it is still expected to remain one of the most important trends in global timber demand as India’s increasing need for imported wood fibre is expected to be sustained for several decades. Given the positive projections for India, our participation at INDIAWOOD is aimed at encouraging the use of American softwoods for both internal and external projects and increasing awareness of commercially available species.” He added further.
Tags: American Softwoods (AMSO), India, u.s softwood lumber, USD 10.5 million
