Canadian lumber exports to the US increased by 7% between January and April, a record for the first four months of the year.
Industry newsletter Random Lengths attributes the rise to a rush of activity by Canadian producers before the final US countervailing and anti-dumping duties came into effect on May 22.
Shipments totalled 6.55 billion bd ft during the four-month period, up from 6.12 billion bd ft in 2001.
The level of exports for May is also predicted to be high because of a duty-free ‘window’ during the month.
With large production increases also recorded in the US, plus a 55% increase in non-Canadian imports between January and April, the market is suffering from oversupply.
