China’s fibreboard exports to the USA fell 11% to 71,200 cubic metres and plywood exports to the USA dropped 31% to 360,000 cubic metres in the first three months of 2018, as ITTO reported.
As exports to the USA decline there has been a rise in exports of panel products to Nigeria, Kenya and the UK. In the first quarter of 2018 export volumes to these three markets were Nigeria; 78,900 cubic metres, Kenya; 9,800 cubic metres and UK; 6,000 cubic metres.
The direction of trade of China’s plywood exports has also altered with the UK, Thailand and Nigeria becoming more prominent. China’s plywood exports to the UK, Thailand and Nigeria rose 28%, 74% and 270% respectively.
