According to a report from the American Hardwood Export Council, temperate hardwood exports from the U.S. to the European Union fell 20 percent in 2012. This marked a 3 percent loss of market share for the U.S. In its European Market Report, the council cited the 40 percent decline of Italian imports for the drop. However, Sweden and the United Kingdom imported substantially more U.S. hardwood in 2012.
Overall, the 27 countries in the EU imported 2.32 million cubic meters (81.9 million cubic feet) of sawn hardwood from around the world, down 12 percent from 2011. Imports of sawn tropical hardwood were down 13 percent from 2011. The report notes that 2012 was the first year in living memory when EU tropical wood imports have been below 1 million cubic meters. The average volume 25 years ago was three times what it was in 2012.
Much of the tropical hardwood comes from Malaysia, Brazil and Cameroon. While Malaysia and Brazil saw 27 and 22 percent drops in imports, respectively, Cameroon only lost 4 percent, gaining 9 percent market share. The increased demand for sapele from Cameroon and the country's 40 percent Forest Stewardship Council certification were responsible for the stable state of trade, according to AHEC.
