Ministry of Forests, Mines and Lands
VICTORIA - For the first time ever, China is the number-one overseas destination for B.C. lumber in terms of value as well as volume, Minister of Forests, Mines and Lands Pat Bell announced following a record-breaking month and year for exports to China.
B.C. lumber exports to China for 2010 are valued at about $687 million, more than double the value of shipments in 2009 and, for the first time ever, exceed the value of softwood products shipped to Japan.
“We are seeing huge jumps in the value of softwood products going to China as they continue to place larger orders for higher quality and better grades of lumber,” said Bell. “December shipments alone worth nearly $107 million capped a sales year that goes in the ledger as the best ever for B.C. lumber exports to China. It’s the fifth year in a row that we have set new annual highs for both volume and value.”
B.C. exported approximately 4.6 million cubic meters (an estimated 2.8 billion board feet) of softwood lumber products to China in 2010, an increase of 76 per cent from 2009.
The newest project in B.C.’s marketing strategy is a demonstration for the March 28-30 Green Building Show in Beijing. A three-storey, nine-unit prefabricated apartment will be assembled in a 72-hour window to highlight the speed and ease of building with wood.
“Thousands of designers, builders and architects will see a full-scale apartment structure created in less than three days from prefabricated walls, floors and trusses,” said Bell, who will attend the Green Building Show.
“This innovative display will ensure wood-frame construction is central to the discussions on solutions for sustainable housing in China.”
Opening up and expanding markets for B.C. wood products, particularly exports to China, is vital for a stronger and more diversified forest sector.