U.S. demand for our lumber to

Arti J. Rare Smyth Research Director TWA. CANADA

N October, 1991 the U.S. Com-

uy, eprovinclal govern- ents for public timber.

aims ing duty case, ne US. Coalition

from domestic production. The U.S. Coalition alleges that, because the eanadian agadusEny, has been under-

suppressed and pat margins of

sharp productio: ofa peveres decline in the Us s. lumber market ove

438 million board feet from its 1987 t 13) bil illio nm board feet

shows that tUS.c consumption fel Sees a record 50.6 billion board feet (BBF) in 1987, to an estimated 43.1 BBF in 1991, a decrease of 7.5 billion board fe

sult, softwood lumber pro- duction ‘has also fallen rein tally

990. tae pr aie ion continued in all regions. However ae alot in n the U.S. South w mod

approximately

— and much of ies was pore by

restrictions eee on timber ‘har ig by

nousTaY PROSPECTS FOR 1992 AND

oun-

Bie federal lands. As a result, the roar was all but shut down eB:

Ing. the jast quarter of the y

mise legislation p a

1991 ce tervaing vty petition is ae ate beca es will

dian softwood lumber imports by 1992, aaa particularly by 1993. Hising con- in U.S.

South. Table 2 shows that between

region.

1987 and 1990 Can meted by 3.1 billion board feet, com- Pared toa 2.4 BBF fall in US. produc-

ree Canadian lumber, imports. into

BBF, matching the decrease in Us. output. British Columbia Seduction dropped by a whopping 1.7 billio:

board feet. By sharp contrast, U.S. southern pine region output rose by

In alln the U.S. poor brad pine, pions ree employment it and hours worke a have

‘or in

during late 1991 almost one-t i rd “ot British Columbia sawmill workers c

See Sees of panect 1aebes

Table 1 reveals that U.S. consump- tion will rise frond 43.1 billion board feet in ee to 1993 dem: to pee the a 8 leve 48.5 BBF — a rise of almos bullion board feet over the 1991 Tevel Increased housing d

feet ee than the U.S. market con- sume in 1987, it still represents: a

dramatic shortages that will develop in U.S. timber supplies.

THE GROWING SHORTFALL IN U.S. TIMBER SUPPLIES By 1992, the United States will

supplies — especially in Ore; on and Washington. The vi

lumber production boom in that region. By 1989, however, the envi-

to be mandated for the 1990 ies year, court actions since then have virtually wiped out the fess timber sales Programas for the 1991

and 1992 fiscal yea During early 1990 ¢ a study commis- sioned by @ the US. Forest |

sales in Oregon and Siechie ston,

Known as the Thomas Report, study set a maximum tim! devel for the national forests of 2.

legislation now being

Orsecns Pe Robert Pack yoo icated that, if the bill p

Ora board feet is the maxil

ed against individual timber sales

8/LUMBERWORKER/APRIL, 1992

ile: a