Pictured here, annual U.S. hardwood lumber export volumes have fluctuated widely since 1990, from a low-point of around 1.9 million cubic meters per year in both 1990 and 2009, to a high-point of 4.46 million cubic meters in 2017. Year-to-date hardwood lumber export volumes for 2024 are on pace to surpass 2023 by 5%. It's interesting to note how both destination-country-concentration, and species preferences have changed during the 30+ years. While Japan accounted for 15% of U.S. hardwood lumber exports in 1990, they were a mere 2% by 2010, and fell out of the top 10 altogether by 2024. Also noteworthy, China wasn't even among the top-10 U.S. hardwood lumber export destination countries in 1990, and had grown to account for 29% of our total hardwood lumber exports by 2010. Additionally, red oak represented 31% of our hardwood lumber export volume in 1990, then fell to 18% by 2010, before rising back to 26% of total hardwood lumber exports as of 2024.
Tracking Trends: 30+ Years of U.S. Hardwood Log Exports and Evolving Markets
