Total value of American hardwood lumber and veneer exported to India was USD 2.3 million in the first quarter of 2021

India, as a market for American hardwoods, looks to be back on track to fulfill its potential following last years’ economic downturn caused by COVID-19. Keeping in line with India’s rapid economic recovery, total exports of U.S. hardwood lumber and veneer to India for the first quarter of 2021 reached USD 2.308 million, up by 62 percent, according to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry. Statistics compiled from the latest data released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed that U.S. hardwood lumber exports for Q1, 2021 increased by 214 percent to reach USD 1.159 million whilst U.S. hardwood veneer exports increased by 9 percent to reach USD 1.149 million.

According to AHEC, demand for American hardwoods in India is expected to at least return to the record levels seen in 2019 this year; and the first quarter statistics are definitely a step in the right direction. Despite global lumber shortages, uncertainty in freight rates and availability of containers, and generally increasing prices across all species, exports of both U.S. hardwood lumber and veneer were up year-on-year. It is also worth noting that U.S. hardwood log exports to India reached just 678 cubic meters during the period, marking a 71 percent decrease in comparison to the same period last year. This is indicative of a general shift seen in recent years by Indian buyers towards importing value-added kiln-dried lumber, as opposed to logs.

“Given the tremendous potential present in India and despite the major challenges facing the wider use of American hardwoods, we cannot ignore the fact that demand has been increasing in recent years. Whilst overall imports of U.S. hardwood lumber and veneers decreased in 2020, they were still significantly higher than in 2018. India, like other markets across the globe, was impacted by the pandemic in the first half of 2020 but showed a remarkable turnaround with two thirds of the total volume exported to India in 2020 taking place during the second half of the year. This uptake has continued into the new year, and the first quarter statistics bode well for the rest of the year,” said Roderick Wiles, AHEC Regional Director.

A closer look at the numbers for the first quarter reveal that total hardwood lumber shipped from the United States to India increased by 214 percent in value to USD 1.159 million (up from USD 370,000) and by 196 percent in volume to 1,887 cubic meters (up from 638 cubic meters). The top five American hardwood species exported were hickory (USD 335,000 and 522m3), red alder (USD 252,000 and 452m3), white oak (USD 199,000 and 344m3), ash (USD 200,000 and 280m3), and red oak (USD 156,000 and 243m3). Significant increases were seen in both value and volume of exports across all species, which proves that 2020 was a temporary dip in an otherwise upward trend.

“However, we are not out of the woods yet. 2021 did start very well for exports of American hardwoods to India, but the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic is a major cause for concern and its effect on India’s economic recovery, not to mention its people, is yet to be fully seen. On top of this, global demand for American hardwoods has surged in recent months and supply is yet to catch up, resulting in tighter than usual availability of certain species. This supply-demand balance will be restored soon enough, but it makes for a challenging time at present. Nonetheless, both AHEC and the U.S. hardwood industry as a whole remain extremely confident in the future potential of India as a major world market for American hardwoods. For this reason, we remain committed to supporting this developing trade,” concluded Wiles.