Offshore shipments last year were 330 million board ft. Compared with 2005, Bright SP exports rose 20% to 228 million board feet and treated SP rose 21% to 102 million board feet.
Exports of all US softwoods also reached a six-year high at 889 million board feet, but imports were down significantly in response to lower US housebuilding requirements.
The SFPA said on the year softwood imports declined 7% to 22.6 billion board feet, but in December dropped by 22%. The big loser was Brazil, which last year shipped 23% less to the US, while shipments from China were up 450%.
