Lucrative log markets in China have resulted in a tripling of softwood log export volumes from Australia the past four years
Timberland owners in Australia are increasingly exploring opportunities for the exportation of logs as an alternative to selling logs in the domestic market. From 2012 to 2016, the export volume was up 300%, and 2017 is likely to set a new record high, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. Rising log prices in the export market have been the key drivers of the increase in exports. Conversely, prices in the domestic market have stagnated the past few years.Seattle, USA. Australia has rapidly become a major exporter of softwood logs and was the world’s sixth largest log exporter in 2016.