Global Wood Supply and Demand Outlook in 2030

The article titled “Global timber supply and demand balance in 2030; whether the balance has changed?” published by Timber Resources International predicts that the industrial log required by the global forest industry will increase from the current 1.57 billion m3 to 2.63 billion m3 in 2030. The supply of wood will grow slowly, and supply shortages will occur in many regions. Globally, supplies of softwood will be in deficit, and annual demand will exceed annual supply; the supply and demand of non-coniferous wood in the United States will be positively balanced, while deficits in softwood will occur by 2025; Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Asia will become needles. The main areas of shortage of leaf material are the United States and Africa.

The United States will need to import 50 million m3 coniferous wood logs in 2010. Canada has historically been the country that exports conifers to the United States, but it will only be able to supply 20 million m3 coniferous wood products by 2010. The United States, Japan, and Eastern Europe will have to import logs or finished products to meet their own needs. Supply will likely come from Latin America, Russia, and Africa. Trade patterns will also change from logs and wood chips to primary and secondary processed products. Japan has long been an importer of timber raw materials. In recent years, it has increased imports of square timber and timber components, and will continue to increase imports of semi-finished products in the future. Latin America has great potential for exporting non-coniferous products. In the next 30 years, the global forest industry will undergo major changes. 40% of the timber will come from plantations producing timber. The rotation period will be short-term or medium-term. The fastest growing demand for forest industry products will be in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.