Through October of this year, the value of British Columbia’s (Canada) softwood lumber exports has broken a new record, Canada’s Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson (photo) announced this week. At the end of October, the value of total softwood lumber exports to China reached $1.17 billion, exceeding the previous record set in 2011 when softwood lumber exports to China totaled $1.1 billion. B.C.'s through-October shipments of lumber to China also broke new records for monthly volume (865,000 cubic meters) and value ($145.5 million). 

 

The value of lumber exports to Japan and the U.S. through the end of October also have surpassed recent years' totals. Softwood lumber exports to the U.S. are at $2.13 billion (compared with $2 billion for all of 2012), and to Japan at $703 million (compared with $674 million for all of 2012). The U.S., China, and Japan are B.C.'s top three markets for softwood lumber. 

The increase in value reflects both higher shipment volumes to these markets in 2013 as well as increased lumber prices. 

Thomson led a trade mission of more than 25 senior forestry executives to Japan and China in October. Premier Christy Clark returned from her 2013 Jobs and Trade Mission to Asia just last week.