EXAMINATION OF WORLDWIDE HARDWOOD LUMBER PRODUCTION, TRADE, AND APPARENT CONSUMPTION: 1995-2013

Authors

  • William G. Luppold Northern Research Station USDA Forest Service Princeton, WV
  • Matthew S. Bumgardner Northern Research Station USDA Forest Service Delaware, OH

Abstract

Worldwide hardwood lumber production fluctuated between 1995 and 2013 and changed considerably with respect to regional market shares. Similarly, worldwide hardwood lumber imports and exports have been constantly changing. Understanding these changes is important because collectively, they define the hardwood lumber consumption of a region or country. In 1995, North America accounted for 25% of worldwide hardwood lumber production whereas East Asia and Oceana (EAO) produced 26%. In the current century, a decline in production in the United States and increased production in China and Vietnam resulted in the EAO region accounting for more than 48% of worldwide hardwood lumber production in 2013. Much of the international trade of hardwood lumber is carried out by EAO and European countries and is intraregional among countries within these regions. Hardwood lumber consumption generally has been moderately to poorly correlated with population at the country level since 1995 and uncorrelated with gross domestic product. However, several other factors also appear to affect current consumption including loss or gain of secondary hardwood industries, age of the population, urbanization, and in recent years, slow economic growth in countries with high per capita gross
national product.

Author Biographies

William G. Luppold, Northern Research Station USDA Forest Service Princeton, WV

Economist

Matthew S. Bumgardner, Northern Research Station USDA Forest Service Delaware, OH

Forest Products Technologist

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Published

2015-08-17

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 3 (2015)

Section

Research Contributions

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