Following the thaw in U.S.-China trade, U.S. log exports to China increased by 35%.

2026-07-10 Source: Mulian Data

U.S. log exports rose 35% year over year in May, with 541,500 cubic meters of hardwood and softwood shipped from U.S. ports, valued at $170.8 million. The average price increased steadily by 8% last month, reaching $315 per cubic meter. These figures are based on new trade data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which tracks timber trade across 36 tariff lines, covering species ranging from walnut and oak to southern pine and Douglas fir. Fir tree 。

China was the driving force behind the surge in headline‑grabbing figures: in May, it imported 69,700 cubic meters of U.S. timber—accounting for 12.9% of total trade—before Beijing’s import ban slashed that volume to just 730 cubic meters within a year. China’s customs authorities suspended imports of U.S. roundwood in March 2025, hours after the Trump administration’s tariffs took effect, only to resume trade on November 10, when China and the United States reached a one‑year truce in South Korea.

U.S. log exports exceeded the corresponding levels of 2025 in every month through 2026, with May’s volume of 541,500 cubic meters up 35% year over year.

The American Hardwood Export Council, commenting on the competitive landscape of the ban year, stated: “The value of log exports has experienced explosive growth. In 2025, Southeast Asia’s sales of hardwood logs surged by 355%, reaching $474.3 million, while production tripled to 814,011 cubic meters. This shift has enabled Southeast Asia to surpass Greater China as the largest purchaser of U.S. hardwoods, with West Virginia–based mills contracting directly with buyers in Mumbai and Hanoi.”

Analysis of the destination table shows that China accounts for $43 million of the annual $50.5 million increase in trade value—representing 85% of every additional dollar of trade revenue—at an average price of $623 per cubic meter. In the same table, all explicitly listed cork‑related flows range from $93 to $234, while purchases from the United States… Walnut wood And two European ones made of oak Single board With market prices ranging from $605 to $926, this pricing profile places Chinese purchase prices at the high end of the hardwood market.

In May 2026, the United States exported roundwood by destination, and China returned at the highest price among all major buyers after a 12-month import ban.

Vietnam topped the list with a 28.6% share, bringing 154,600 cubic meters of timber—valued at US$72.5 million—into processing facilities rebuilt during the ban. At that time, 50 sawmills and eight veneer plants opened around Ho Chi Minh City, handling the cutting of American hardwoods destined for Chinese furniture manufacturers.

India, on the other hand, showcased this facet of softwood, with its procurement volume increasing by 238.6% to reach 82,000 cubic meters of commercial-grade timber. Pine wood , at a price of $100 per cubic meter—this total revenue is nearly on par with China’s. Japan and South Korea, by contrast, together reduced their Douglas-fir harvest by 38,400 cubic meters and Hemlock Orders accounted for half of the month’s net production growth, driving the return to the Chinese market.

Across the entire basket, softwood continues to dominate in volume, while hardwood remains premium in value. In the year preceding the ban, coniferous species accounted for 70% of U.S. export volumes, and walnut and oak contributed 79.3% of hardwood log revenue. By May, the market mix had shifted toward a greater share of hardwoods, with transaction value rising by 42% and sales volume increasing by 35%.

The species-level census data lag behind the headline series by one month, but the latest figures reinforce this trend: in February, China’s log purchases were concentrated on walnut and red oak, while softwood log imports fell 72.5% to 5,209 cubic meters. Confirmation of the May data is expected within a few weeks, when the Census Bureau releases species‑specific details covering all 36 tariff lines.

Hardwood volumes are primarily sourced from the Appalachian region and the U.S. South, shipped via East Coast ports, while Pacific Northwest terminals handle Douglas fir, hemlock, and cedar destined for North Asia—two supply chains that have moved in opposite directions as demand for softwood in North Asia has cooled.

In the five months following the start of 2026, USDA data show that monthly production exceeded last year’s levels. From January to May, total output reached 2.99 million cubic meters, enabling U.S. exporters to surpass pre‑China‑return levels by 587,800 cubic meters—approximately 24.5%.

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Editor: Taizi