Click here to return to this month's Article Index

The Cutting Edge^™ June 2005

International Business Development

The WMMA now has access to the official import and export statistics of 47 of our major trading partners. The 47 countries I estimate account for over 90% of trade in wood products to include, furniture, rough wood, planned sawn wood, mouldings as well as doors and windows. This article will highlight some of the trends in wood products trade. For a complete set of tables, go to http://www.wmma.org/members/secureDocument.cfm?docID=296. You will need your user name and password to access the linked tables. If you don't have one or forgot it, contact WMMA Headquarters at 215-564-3484 or email wmma@fernley.com).

If you want statistics for a specific country and/or region and a specific product or range of products, please contact Harold Zassenhaus, 215 564 3484; email: hzassenhaus@fernley.com. The service is free or at minimal cost for WMMA members.

The following are a few explanations to assist you in interpreting the trends:

1. For a complete listing of the 47 countries on which we track imports and exports, click http://www.wmma.org/members/secureDocument.cfm?docID=216.
2. For a complete listing and description of imported and exported products covered click http://www.wmma.org/members/secureDocument.cfm?docID=217.
3. The data from the 47 countries is comparable and based on a universally accepted 6-digit Harmonized System (HS) of customs classification codes.
4. The statistics from which I am pulling trends are official country import statistics of the group of 47 countries by country. For example, I state in this article that total imports of wood furniture by the 47 countries were $37.9 billion in 2004. As a group, $9 billion was imported from China. You may ask, "Why don't I take the official export statistics of the 47 countries instead since this would reflect total global shipments of the world's largest producers and not just shipments to the group of 47 nations?" The answer is simple: China under reports its exports and by a lot. As mentioned above, wood furniture imports from China by the group of 47 nations totaled $9 billion in 2004. In the same year China reported total global exports of wood furniture of $5.2 billion. The difference cannot be explained by transportation costs or diversion to Hong Kong or elsewhere. So, until we get reliable statistics from one of the world's most important suppliers we will have to report trade trends through imports of a group of identified players.
5. As a final comment, the information now available is extensive. The review that follows is only my assessment of what should be provided to all members and readers of the Cutting Edge. Please let me know what you think of it and please suggest other or additional data you would like to see on a periodic basis. I can be reached at phone (215) 564 3484; fax (215) 963 9785; email hzassenhaus@fernley.com.

Rough Wood
Imports from the 47 reporting countries were $8.4 billion in 2004, a 14.4% increase over 2003. Russia supplied 34% of the total ($2.9 billion) a 32% increase over 2003, followed by the US, Canada, New Zealand and Germany, respectively. Some of the fastest growing suppliers of rough wood (shipments greater than $25 million) include:

Sawn Wood
Total sawn wood imports from the reporting countries equaled $26.7 billion in 2004, a 20% increase over 2003. Canada, Sweden, US, Finland and Germany were the top suppliers accounting for about 62% of total shipments. Canada itself shipped $9 billion or 36% of the total. Some of the fastest growing supplier nations were:

Continuously Shaped Wood, Moulded, Tongued, Grooved, etc.
Total imports by the 47 reporting countries reached $4.3 billion in 2004, a 28% increase over 2003. China was the largest supplier nation shipping over $600 million to the group, a 71% increase over 2003. The other countries that rounded out the top 5 were Brazil, Indonesia, Chile and Canada. The fastest growing suppliers were:

Builders' Joinery
Total imports were $8 billion in 2004, a 19% increase over 2003. Canada provided 21% of the total with China, Germany, Austria and Denmark rounding out the top 5 supplier nations. The fastest growing markets included:

Wood Furniture
Total wood furniture imports reached $37.9 billion, a 16% increase over 2003. China led other supplier countries by shipping $9 billion, a 28% increase over 2003 and almost double the 2nd largest supplier, Italy. Other suppler nations rounding out the top 5 were Canada, Poland and Germany. The largest and fastest growing supplier nations were:

Table of Contents
What's Happening in the Business World?
Taxing the American Dream
Global Trade Trends for Wood Products
US Import and Export Trade Statistics
WMMA Scholarship Student Tim Horn Recaps Scholarship Experience, Gives Update on Current Endeavors
June 2005 Quarterly Economic Outlook Report
Do You Have a Buy U.S.- Made Story to Share?
Multicam - Proud WMMA Member and U.S. Manufacturer
Members Only Bulletin Board and Job Bank Expand Your Reach