The US export trade in logs is in freefall. New data provided by the United States Department of Agriculture reveal that the US traded 408,100 cubic metres of logs in April—a drop of 32% on the same period last year, fuelled by a massive drop in Chinese imports.
Once accounting for more than 45% of it’s total log trade (274,900 cubic metres—in April 2024), the new data, which supports similar data published from Chinese Customs last month, shows that trade in American hardwood and softwood logs has slowed to a crawl with the world’s largest exporter of logs is turning to Canada (135,200 cubic metres—or 33.2% of total trade), Vietnam (130,300 cubic metres), and India (60,700 cubic metres) to make up the shortfall.
The latest figures point to a major slowdown for one of China’s largest suppliers of logs (traditionally, it’s the third most important market for logs behind New Zealand and Papua New Guinea). However, it nonetheless confirms that some logs (4,100 cubic metres) are still being traded through Chinese ports, weeks after Wood Central reported that China’s Customs suspended trade of US logs over fears of a bark beetle and longhorn infestation.
According to the data, trade in logs dropped (for a second month in a row), with Vietnam (up more than 100,000 cubic metres in April 2024) and India (also up 30,000 cubic metres on last year) proving to be great business for exporters. At the same time, logs traded through Japanese borders – traditionally the United States’ third most important market behind China and Canada – halved from 104,800 cubic metres last year to just 46,800 cubic metres this year.
The data comes after the United States and China struck a deal in which both agreed to a 90-day pause on escalating tariffs between the two largest economies: “The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People’s Republic of China have agreed to reduce tariffs on imports and exports w.e.f. May 14, 2025, for an initial period of 90 days,” according to a joint statement published last month.
In effect, this means the US will temporarily lower tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China will cut levies on American imports from 125% to 10%: “These discussions may be conducted alternately in China and the United States, or a third country upon agreement of the Parties. As required, the two sides may conduct working-level consultations on relevant economic and trade issues,” the statement said.
Why China matters for US log exports
As it stands, China is the United States’ most important export market for softwood and hardwood logs, with trade in China ($2.23 billion in 2023) dwarfing the United Kingdom ($1.61 billion) and Canada ($1.62 billion). Earlier this year, Wood Central reported that more than 173,000 cubic metres of logs were traded from the United States to China in December last year, making the trade hugely crucial for both countries.
