Forest Products

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Key Economic Trends

• The U.S. experienced a positive trade balance in forest products in 2010, as an increase in imports was more than offset by a larger increase in exports. The trade balance in forest products has gone from a deficit of $20.3 billion in 2006 to a surplus of $0.6 billion in 2010.
• The largest absolute trade shift among forest products occurred in exports of wood pulp and recovered paper, which increased by $2.0 billion (30 percent), primarily due to increased demand in China.
• Modest increases in U.S. domestic demand for most forest products contributed to an overall increase in U.S. imports, but higher demand in China and other countries supported an even larger increase in U.S. exports.

Trade Shifts from 2009 to 2010

• U.S. trade deficit: Shifted from a $1.0 billion deficit to a $0.6 billion surplus
• U.S. exports: Increased by $5.9 billion (19 percent) to $36.4 billion
• U.S. imports: Increased by $4.2 billion (13 percent) to $35.7 billion

Selected Product Shifts

• Wood pulp and waste paper

USITC Publications

• Wood Flooring and Hardwood Plywood: Competitive Conditions Affecting the U.S. Industries, USITC Publication 4032, August 2008.
• Developments in the Sourcing of Raw Materials for the Production of Paper, USITC Publication 4101, September 2009.

Other Resources

• American Forest & Paper Association
• Random Lengths Publications, Inc.
• American Wood Council
• Hardwood Federation
• American Hardwood Export Council