Offshore softwood imports to the US plummeted in the first half of 2007, according to industry publication Random Lengths.
The imports were down 51% for the period due to a variety of factors including a depressed housing market and weak dollar.
Shipments totalled 778 million board feet, down from 1.6 billion board feet a year ago. Overseas imports made up 8% of total US softwood lumber imports – with the rest coming from Canada.
There is speculation that European suppliers may soon turn their attention to the US again because of changes to market conditions in Europe and other regions.
However, shipments from China actually rose 33% to 31 million board feet.
