Wood Market Trends in Europe - BC Coastal Initiative

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T
R
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N
D
Figure 4
Softwood lumber production and
consumption in Europe and the former
Soviet Union, 1964-2006
Source: UNECE Timber Database
Europe’s growing role as a large
net exporter of softwood lumber
Historically Europe had an approximate balance in production and consumption
of softwood lumber. This changed for the fi rst time over the last decade,
and Western Europe became a net exporter for the fi rst time in 2004. 1 Europe
is now the world’s largest exporting region of softwood lumber with everincreasing
exports in the last fi ve years because of two key effects:
1. Softwood lumber production in Western Europe has increased more rapidly
than consumption. This production upsurge is led by Germany, Austria,
Sweden and Finland.
2. In Eastern Europe, the recovery in softwood lumber consumption lags the
increase in production volume. Production recovered to pre-1990 levels by
2000, but consumption is still much lower. 1
Million cubic metres
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1 FAOSTAT foreSTAT Database http://faostat.fao.org/site/381/default.aspx
1978
1980
1982
Total Production
Former Soviet Union Production
Western Europe Production
Eastern Europe Production
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
Antje Wahl
2002
2004
2006
Total Consumption
Former Soviet Union Consumption
Western Europe Consumption
Eastern Europe Consumption
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