The value ofšimport and export trade declined for the second successive quarter due tošshrinking demand from developed countries inšEurope, the USšand Japan.
Latest figures for the first quarter show trade fell 19% tošUS$11.8bn, compared with the same period inš2008. Imports were down 28% tošUS$4.8bn and exports fell 11% tošUS$6.9bn.
Exports ofšplywood declined 41% byšvolume tošalmost one billion m? and 38% byšvalue tošUS$462.2m. Other wood products, such asšdoors, windows and flooring, declined 11% tošUS$649.2m.
Sawnwood imports ofš1.5 million m?, primarily from Russia, North America, Thailand and New Zealand, were little changed byšvolume, but fell 12.8% inšvalue tošUS$373.4m.
Imports ofšwood-based panels continued tošdecline. Plywood was down 57% byšvolume and 56% byšvalue, fibreboard down 32% byšboth volume and value, particleboard declined 23% byšvolume and 34% byšvalue and veneer was down 44% byšvolume and 47% byšvalue.
