The biggest changes in overseas lumber trade in 2013 have been a continued increase in exports from the Nordic countries to Asia (mainly Japan) and from North America (mainly Canada) to China, while there has been a decline in trade within Europe and in shipments from most supplying countries to Northern Africa, according to the WRQ (www.woodprices.com).

With a strengthening lumber market in the US it is likely that Canadian sawmills in the western provinces may redirect some of their current shipments that are currently going to Asia into the American market in the coming year. As a consequence, opportunities would rise for European and Latin American lumber producers to expand exportation to both Japan and China.