Southern Pine Lumber Exports Surge in 2024 Despite Quarterly Fluctuations

According to data recently released by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Services’ Global Agricultural Trade System, exports of Southern Pine lumber (treated and untreated) are running 17% ahead of 2023 through the first nine months of 2024.

Southern Pine lumber exports were down 10% in Q3 of 2024, when compared to Q2 of 2024, but are up 11% over Q3 of 2023. Exports were up 3% over August and up 20.9% over September 2023. On the other hand, softwood imports, were down 6.3% over September 2023 but up a slight 1.2% over August. They were down 4.3% in August over 2023 and down 3.8% over July. They are nearly flat through the first nine months of the year at 1.1 MBF.

When looking at the report by dollar value, Southern Pine exports between January and September 2024 are running 9% ahead of the same period in 2023 at $168.7 million, with Mexico leading the way at $46.6 million, followed by the Dominican Republic at $41.3 million, and India at $13.1 million. Treated lumber exports, meanwhile, are flat over the year at $103.1 million led by Jamaica with $17.6 million, the Leeward-Windward Islands at $16.1 million, and the Dominican Republic at $8.4 million.