Feb 27, 2014. /Lesprom Network/. Southern Pine exports finished 2013 at a volume approaching 445 million board feet (MMbf), a jump of 13% above the 2012 export total, according to the latest trade data released by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

That 2013 volume exported represents an increase of 43% above the 312 MMbf exported in 2010. The top three destinations for Southern Pine exports in 2013 were the Dominican Republic (69.9 MMbf), China (64.2 MMbf) and Mexico (60.7 MMbf).

For the month of December, exports totaled 43.4 MMbf, a dip of 6% from December 2012. December shipments offshore break down as follows: 22.5 MMbf dressed, 12.5 MMbf rough and 8.4 MMbf treated lumber.

Softwood lumber imports to the U.S. finished 2013 with a volume of 11.2 billion board feet (Bbf), up 15% from 2012. December imports are reported to be 883 MMbf, up a hefty 21% above December 2012 imports. Imports from Canada totaled approximately 10.8 Bbf during 2013, with 850 MMbf imported in December alone.