Aug 03, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. In 2005 the USA imported 5.3 million cubic meters of plywood ($1.8 billion), of which 1. 5 million cubic meters ($519.6 million) was tropical plywood, ITTO reported. The four most important suppliers of tropical plywood to the USA are Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Brazil, accounting together for 95% of the import volume and 93% of the value. With the exception of Indonesia, all have consolidated their dominating position since 2001. Malaysia is the leading volume supplier of tropical plywood to the USA with 453 359 cubic meters as of 2005 (31% of total US tropical plywood imports), up 53% from 2001. Malaysian tropical plywood is relatively inexpensive on average ($320 per cubic meters in 2005 compared to an average $360 per cubic meters). Therefore, Malaysia ($145.3 million) was second after Indonesia ($158.6 million) in import value terms. Malaysian meranti plywood exports to the USA are very small and declining. Last year’s shipments amounted to only 1 738 cubic meters down from 3 152 cubic meters in 2001. Prior to 2003, Indonesia was the largest supplier of tropical plywood to the USA, both in terms of value and volume. In 2005, Indonesia ranked third, after Malaysia and China, with 380 616 cubic meters (26.3% of the US tropical plywood market), down 29% from the 2001. With an average of $416 per cubic meters, Indonesian tropical plywood is relatively expensive. Indonesia prices rose at an above average rate of 40% between 2001 and 2005. Thus, Indonesia remained the US largest supplier of tropical plywood in value terms ($158.5 million). However, the value of Indonesian plywood shipments to the USA has been declining in 2006. In earlier years, Indonesia was an important source of meranti et.al. plywood to the USA. In 2001, it held a market share of 44% of all US meranti et.al plywood imports. In 2005, Indonesia’s share plunged to only 4% due to growing dominance by China. China was US second largest supplier of tropical plywood in volume terms in 2005 (404 141 cubic meters), after Malaysia and the third (after Malaysia and Indonesia) in value terms ($127.5 million). The average price of Chinese tropical plywood of $315.4 per cubic meters is below the overall average. Chinese shipments of tropical plywood to the USA grew 653.8% in volume and 1 000% in value from 2001, well above the overall growth of US tropical plywood imports of 34.8% in volume and 70% in value. As a result, China’s share increased from 4% in 2001 to over one-quarter in 2005. China is the USA’s most important supplier of meranti et.al plywood with 29 782 cubic meters (market share of 62%). However, its average price of $288 per cubic meters is below the overall average price of $311.8 per cubic meters. Nevertheless, Chinese meranti et.al exports of $6.9 million in 2005 accounted for a value-share of 41.3%. The volume and value of Chinese meranti et.al plywood shipments to the USA climbed by 7 800% and 3 818%, respectively, between 2001 and 2005, well above the overall increase of 136% and 228%. China is also an important supplier of mahogany plywood to the USA, ranking third after Canada and Brazil. China’s share of just above 10% in 2005 continues to grow in 2006. Brazil is the USA’s fourth largest supplier of tropical plywood. Its volume and value share is slightly below 10% and virtually unchanged since 2001. The export volume was 131 260 cubic meters, valued at $50.6 million in 2005. Brazilian tropical plywood for the US market is priced at $385.4 per cubic meters, above the overall average but below the $416 per cubic meters for Indonesian plywood. In spite of CITES and Brazil’s export restraints, Brazil remains the most important supplier of mahogany plywood to the USA, with a volume of 5 711 cubic meters in 2005 (53.4% as all mahogany plywood imports). However, Brazilian mahogany plywood import value is only $2.2 million or only 39.5% value-share, due to below average prices. Canada exports higher added-value mahogany plywood with an export value of $2.5 million in 2005. Other countries suppliers of tropical plywood to the USA include Canada, the Philippines, Ecuador, Taiwan PoC and Guatemala. However, the share of each of these countries on total US imports of tropical plywood is less than 2%.