US imports of sawn tropical hardwood expanded 18% in October, rising to 22,080 m3 for the month. Imports were 10% higher than October of last year. For the year to October imports are up on 2018 by 17%, as ITTO reported.
Imports from Ecuador continue to grow, rising by 74% month-on-month in October but are still at a level slightly below that of October 2018. Total imports from Ecuador for the year to October are down 8%.
Sawnwood imports from Brazil and Cameroon both fell by more than 20% in October but remain well ahead of 2018. Jatoba imports remained steady at a level well above previous years.
Jatoba imports are more than double that of 2018 and are the highest volume tropical hardwood imported by the US year to date. Balsa, the traditional import leader, saw a 71% increase in volume in October to a level roughly even with October 2018 and is now down 8% from last year to date. Keruing imports more than doubled in October and are now up 37% year to date. Teak and padauk also saw stronger imports in October and are well ahead of last year’s volume to date.
