British Columbian mills are among the best in the world according to a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers and International Wood Markets Research.
Twenty lumber producing regions around the world, including the US, Europe, Russia and South America, were studied, with BC scoring well on most counts.
Part of the reason for the success is put down to Canada having to trim back to deal with the 27% lumber duties imposed by the US in 2002.
The industry has invested in new technology and equipment and cut costs, making it one of the most efficient in the world.
The study also revealed that North American producers are facing increasing competition from countries such as Russia, Chile, Brazil and Australia. However, while some have the advantage of ample timber supplies, they suffer from the fact that their sawmills are smaller and less technologically advanced.