Canadian lumber production in June was at its lowest level for five years, official figures have shown.

Statistics Canada revealed that lumber production was down 8.3% year-on-year, with June’s level, 6.1 million m², falling 2.4% from May, contributing to a 9.5% decline in production for the year-to-date.

Stocks dropped month-on-month to 8.4 million m², while British Columbia and Quebec, Canada’s biggest lumber producing provinces, both recorded lower production figures, with Quebec experiencing a 20.4% decline to 1.18 million m² for June.

The continued depression in the US housing market and a tightening credit situation were cited as important reasons in the drop in production.