Shipments this year are on target to be the highest since 2006 and 36% higher than five years ago, Wood Resources International said in its Wood Resource Quarterly report.
Most major exporting countries shipped more lumber this year than in 2013, but the big winners were Germany and Russia.
The overall increase is in line with the latest figures for Sweden. Exports of sawn and planed softwood for the year to July were up 7.6% at 7.3 million m3. For July the monthly increase was 3.6% at 880,200m3 and the average value for the month was around SKr2,000 per m3.
Sweden and Germany are expected to reach their highest exports in at least seven years if demand continues, the report said.
The main customer for all imports remains China and the largest suppliers to that market are Russia and Canada, accounting for 77% of all volumes.
