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Australian Softwood Log Exports Surged in June

Australian Softwood Log Exports Surged in June

Australia’s softwood log exports exploded to a new monthly record in June, with total exports reaching a massive 590,689 cubic meters (m3), up more than 83% on the prior month. To underscore the magnitude of the monthly record, this is more than 27% or 110,000 m3 higher than for any prior month.

Until May, exports had been softening for some months. As a result of the rise in May and the massive lift in June, exports for 2019-20 totaled 3.723 million m3. While that was 2.8% higher than a year earlier, the softening in late 2019 and early 2020 means annualized exports are still well below their 4.072 million m3 peak reached in September 2017.

Formal data, released just hours ago, confirmed vessel tracking data and industry anecdotes that indicated run away demand from Chinese plymill and sawmill customers, who are extremely active, acquiring all the resource they can.

Aus_Logs_Aug2020_1

Whether from Australia or New Zealand, buyers have been strong in the market, despite reportedly large inventories, over fears that pandemic induced close downs would short them of supply at some point in the second half of 2020. Given the situation in some parts of Australia, that concern does not seem entirely unfounded.

The following chart, extracted from our visualization platform, Wood Market Edge online, shows just the last year of softwood log exports from Australia, emphasizing the magnitude of the latest rise.

Aus_Logs_Aug2020_2

In other breaking news available on Wood Market Edge online, our implied sawn softwood consumption model shows that once again, demand for sawn softwood defied expectations in June. Instead of falling, consumption increased, led higher by sustained local sales, supported by stable imports of structural grades.

 

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