Changing trends in the global forest industry in 2023

Lumber trade has become more global over the past few decades with an increased flow of wood products from forest-rich countries to regions lacking domestic forests to supply the local markets. One good example is Sweden, where lumber manufacturers have expanded their sales far outside the markets they supplied in the past. Fifteen years ago, almost 80% of the country’s lumber export volume was shipped to European markets. That share has declined to about 55%. Combined softwood lumber production in Canada and the US in the first three quarters of 2023 totaled 73 million m3, down from ...