United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest Service

Pacific Northwest

Research Station

General Technical

Report

PNW-GTR-770

August 2008

Harvest, Employment, Exports, and

Prices in Pacific Northwest Forests,

1965–2007

Debra D. Warren
The Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the

principle of multiple use management of the Nation’s forest resources for sustained yields of wood, water, forage, wildlife, and recreation. Through forestry

research, cooperation with the States and private forest owners, and management of the national forests and national grasslands, it strives—as directed by

Congress—to provide increasingly greater service to a growing Nation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its

programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability,

and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion,

sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or

part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not

all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require

alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print,

audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice

and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-

3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and

employer.

Author

Debra D. Warren is an economist, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Suite 400,

620 SW Main, Portland, OR 97208-3890.
Abstract

Warren, Debra D. 2008. Harvest, employment, exports, and prices in Pacific

Northwest forests, 1965–2007. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-770. Portland,

OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest

Research Station. 17 p.

Provides historical information on log harvest; employment in the forest industries;

international trade in logs, lumber, and chips; and volume and average prices of

sawtimber stumpage sold by national forests.

Keywords: Log harvest, employment (forest products industries), exports

(forest products), and stumpage prices.

Summary

The following tables have been compiled from historical publications of “Production, Prices, Employment, and Trade in Northwest Forest Industries” (1968-2007).1

This report presents data from 1965 through 2007 for the Pacific Northwest forest

industries. In most industries, dramatic changes are shown through the years. In the

Oregon and Washington harvest statistics, high peaks occurred in 1968 and 1973,

and the lowest harvests were in 1998 for Oregon and in 2006 for Washington.

Employment in the forest industries has continued to steadily decline. Enormous

changes are shown in log exports from the Pacific Northwest: highest volumes were

in 1988 and 1989, and now the volumes are back to the 1960s level. The chip market remained fairly steady in volume, with prices hitting their peaks in 1995. The

lumber exports (like the logs) peaked in 1988 and 1989, but the total average prices

were highest in 2006. The national forest sawtimber volume was highest in 1970

and dropped off to the lowest in 2000 with only 155 million board feet.

1

 See Austin 1968–70, Darr 1970–72, Hamilton 1964–68, Holt 1972–74,

Ruderman 1974–85, and Warren 1985–2007.
Tables

Table 1—Oregon timber harvest by ownership, 1965–2007

Table 2—Washington timber harvest by ownership, 1965–2007

Table 3—Employment in forest products industries in Washington and Oregon,

1965–2007

Table 4—Volume and average value of softwood log exports from the Seattle

Customs District to all countries, by species, 1965–2007

Table 5—Volume and average value of softwood log exports from the ColumbiaSnake Customs District to all countries, by species, 1965–2007

Table 6—Volume and average value of chips exported from the Oregon and

Washington Customs Districts, 1965–2007

Table 7—Volume and average value of softwood lumber exports from the Seattle

Customs District to all countries, by species, 1965–2007

Table 8—Volume and average value of softwood lumber exports from the

Columbia-Snake Customs District to all countries, by species, 1965–2007

Table 9—Volume of sawtimber sold on national forests, by selected species, Pacific

Northwest Region, 1965–2007

Table 10—Average stumpage prices for sawtimber sold on national forests, by

selected species, Pacific Northwest Region, 1965–2007
1

Harvest, Employment, Exports, and Prices in Pacific Northwest Forests, 1965–2007

Table 1—Oregon timber harvest by ownership, 1965–2006

Bureau Bureau

National of Land of Indian Other

Year Private State forest Management Affairs public Total

Million board feet, Scribner scale

1965 4,034 254 3,781 1,240 74 11 9,394

1966 4,123 184 3,269 1,244 60 41 8,921

1967 3,833 127 3,181 1,092 110 14 8,357

1968 4,354 161 3,642 1,470 100 16 9,743

1969 4,165 200 3,464 1,206 92 23 9,150

1970 3,874 150 2,832 1,037 79 10 7,982

1971 4,230 158 3,197 1,340 87 16 9,028

1972 3,919 246 3,944 1,419 80 22 9,630

1973 3,610 288 3,836 1,501 36 95 9,366

1974 3,822 225 3,163 1,025 11 15 8,361

1975 3,781 160 2,661 626 123 20 7,371

1976 3,561 203 3,174 1,082 108 25 8,153

1977 3,590 228 2,913 1,021 115 11 7,876

1978 3,549 235 3,235 1,039 121 22 7,997

1979 3,209 223 3,167 956 111 29 7,694

1980 3,134 186 2,399 797 105 19 6,639

1981 2,702 216 1,981 677 95 24 5,695

1982 3,440 175 1,688 312 126 17 5,758

1983 3,374 257 2,902 789 112 31 7,464

1984 3,078 249 3,164 920 101 38 7,550

1985 3,332 268 3,480 891 121 34 8,127

1986 3,494 225 3,850 1,042 104 28 8,743

1987 3,281 199 3,451 1,115 117 52 8,215

1988 3,259 270 3,487 1,439 121 39 8,615

1989 3,721 198 3,307 1,026 124 44 8,420

1990 3,229 137 2,014 704 98 37 6,219

1991 3,312 91 2,068 486 87 36 6,080

1992 3,581 135 1,403 483 111 29 5,742

1993 3,608 116 1,102 361 75 31 5,294

1994 3,244 130 596 92 80 25 4,167

1995 3,432 109 515 139 79 30 4,304

1996 3,018 115 401 289 71 29 3,923

1997 3,133 176 523 136 79 35 4,081

1998 2,840 141 333 122 71 25 3,532

1999 3,014 246 233 150 68 49 3,759

2000 3,167 255 245 83 62 42 3,854

2001 2,905 268 135 38 63 30 3,440

2002 3,319 269 166 55 71 42 3,922

2003 3,313 293 203 78 63 52 4,002

2004 3,606 291 337 96 79 42 4,451

2005 3,495 341 275 121 61 61 4,355

2006 3,596 296 216 131 56 34 4,328

Source: Oregon Department of Forestry 1965–2007.
2

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-770

Table 2—Washington timber harvest by ownership, 1965–2006

Bureau Bureau

National of Land of Indian Other

Year Private State forest Management Affairs public Total

Million board feet, Scribner scale

1965 3,591 685 1,720 1 460 65 6,522

1966 3,460 538 1,573 4 431 69 6,075

1967 3,311 467 1,599 3 466 90 5,936

1968 3,856 681 1,795 4 530 105 6,971

1969 4,230 744 1,519 2 421 88 7,004

1970 4,045 602 1,378 3 368 63 6,459

1971 3,946 722 1,261 4 416 101 6,450

1972 4,015 1,004 1,488 3 489 82 7,081

1973 4,728 998 1,613 1 445 24 7,809

1974 4,337 685 1,290 0 452 112 6,876

1975 4,062 540 1,098 1 419 65 6,185

1976 4,414 766 1,214 3 516 55 6,968

1977 4,068 797 1,171 4 477 75 6,592

1978 4,036 955 1,261 3 460 36 6,751

1979 4,068 1,095 1,276 a 432 98 6,969

1980 3,507 745 1,089 0 336 43 5,720

1981 3,266 468 875 1 260 20 4,890

1982 3,740 440 728 1 152 18 5,079

1983 4,025 548 1,240 8 238 28 6,087

1984 3,545 795 1,189 1 205 57 5,792

1985 3,561 1,013 1,128 5 213 43 5,963

1986 3,989 1,064 1,232 4 235 32 6,556

1987 4,367 970 1,423 5 238 35 7,037

1988 4,406 826 1,486 0 271 56 7,045

1989 4,520 842 1,141 1 262 22 6,788

1990 4,147 657 817 4 182 42 5,849

1991 3,650 535 704 1 172 42 5,104

1992 3,844 476 461 a 186 51 5,018

1993 3,321 461 322 a 192 33 4,330

1994 3,421 323 200 a 199 14 4,156

1995 3,489 496 150 a 230 26 4,392

1996 3,274 600 182 a 270 40 4,366

1997 3,139 645 166 a 226 44 4,221

1998 3,044 546 111 a 275 46 4,022

1999 3,246 662 117 a 334 24 4,383

2000 3,131 559 81 a 334 24 4,130

2001 2,818 496 68 a 324 11 3,717

2002 2,722 457 72 a 319 12 3,582

2003 2,697 567 80 a 161 34 3,539

2004 2,754 588 96 a 456 52 3,946

2005 2,609 594 81 a 415 32 3,731

2006 2,528 404 75 a 418 59 3,484

a

 Less than 1 million board feet.

Source: Washington Department of Natural Resources.
3

Harvest, Employment, Exports, and Prices in Pacific Northwest Forests, 1965–2007

Table 3—Employment in forest products industries in Washington and Oregon, 1965–2007

Washington and Oregon Washington Oregon

Lumber Paper Lumber Paper Lumber Paper

wood allied wood allied wood allied

Year Total products products Total products products Total products products

Thousands of persons

1965 148.4 121.1 27.3 66.7 46.9 19.8 81.7 74.2 7.5

1966 148.0 119.6 28.4 66.9 46.6 20.3 81.1 73.0 8.1

1967 141.8 113.4 28.4 63.9 44.0 19.9 77.9 69.4 8.5

1968 147.1 118.3 28.8 65.9 45.9 20.0 81.2 72.4 8.8

1969 145.3 116.2 29.1 65.2 45.2 20.0 80.1 71.0 9.1

1970 138.2 109.0 29.2 62.0 42.2 19.8 76.2 66.8 9.4

1971 141.2 113.8 27.4 61.5 43.4 18.1 79.7 70.4 9.3

1972 150.2 122.5 27.7 65.5 47.3 18.2 84.7 75.2 9.5

1973 155.3 127.9 27.4 66.8 49.1 17.7 88.5 78.8 9.7

1974 152.1 124.5 27.6 67.3 49.7 17.6 84.8 74.8 10.0

1975 137.2 110.8 26.4 60.4 43.8 16.6 76.8 67.0 9.8

1976 150.9 123.4 27.5 68.4 51.0 17.4 82.5 72.4 10.1

1977 159.2 131.4 27.8 71.6 53.9 17.7 87.6 77.5 10.1

1978 159.3 136.5 22.8 69.1 55.1 14.0 90.2 81.4 8.8

1979 159.0 133.4 25.6 68.4 52.6 15.8 90.6 80.8 9.8

1980 144.1 116.1 28.0 64.1 46.5 17.6 80.0 69.6 10.4

1981 135.6 108.1 27.5 61.6 44.4 17.2 74.0 63.7 10.3

1982 120.4 94.6 25.8 55.2 39.0 16.2 65.2 55.6 9.6

1983 128.7 103.7 25.0 56.8 41.1 15.7 71.9 62.6 9.3

1984 132.9 107.7 25.2 57.2 41.0 16.2 75.7 66.7 9.0

1985 126.1 100.9 25.2 53.4 37.3 16.0 72.7 63.6 9.1

1986 126.0 100.6 25.4 53.1 36.7 16.4 72.9 63.9 9.0

1987 131.9 105.8 26.2 56.5 39.2 17.3 75.4 66.5 8.9

1988 135.6 109.6 26.0 58.8 41.7 17.1 76.8 67.9 8.9

1989 135.1 108.2 27.0 59.0 41.1 17.9 76.1 67.0 9.1

1990 130.8 103.6 27.2 58.0 39.9 18.1 72.8 63.7 9.1

1991 120.7 93.5 27.2 54.3 36.4 17.9 66.4 57.1 9.3

1992 117.6 90.8 26.8 54.3 36.5 17.8 63.3 54.3 9.0

1993 115.2 89.4 25.8 52.8 36.1 16.7 62.5 53.4 9.1

1994 117.5 91.1 26.3 53.9 36.7 17.2 63.6 54.5 9.1

1995 116.1 89.7 26.4 52.8 35.5 17.4 63.3 54.2 9.1

1996 111.6 86.0 25.6 52.3 35.5 16.9 59.3 50.6 8.7

1997 112.0 87.3 24.7 51.7 35.4 16.3 60.3 51.9 8.4

1998 110.4 85.9 24.5 51.9 35.6 16.3 58.5 50.3 8.2
4

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-770

Table 3—Employment in forest products industries in Washington and Oregon, 1965–2007 (continued)

Washington and Oregon Washington Oregon

Lumber Paper Lumber Paper Lumber Paper

wood allied wood allied wood allied

Year Total products products Total products products Total products products

Thousands of persons

1999 107.0 83.0 24.0 49.8 34.0 15.7 57.3 49.0 8.3

2000 105.9 82.4 23.5 49.0 33.4 15.6 56.9 49.0 7.9

2001 99.9 77.5 22.4 46.4 31.5 14.9 53.5 46.0 7.5

2002 98.7 78.2 20.5 45.5 32.3 13.2 53.2 45.9 7.3

2003 82.5 62.4 20.1 36.8 23.5 13.3 45.7 38.9 6.8

2004 81.6 61.9 19.7 35.7 23.0 12.7 45.9 38.9 7.0

2005 84.3 65.5 18.8 37.5 25.3 12.2 46.8 40.2 6.6

2006 82.8 64.4 18.4 37.3 25.4 11.9 45.5 39.0 6.5

2007 78.4 61.1 17.4 35.4 24.2 11.2 43.1 36.9 6.2

Source: Oregon Employment Department 1965–2007, the lumber and wood products industry includes logging, lumber, plywood, poles

and pilings, and miscellaneous wood products. The paper and allied products industry includes pulp, paper, paperboard, and building

board products. Data are based on place of residence.
5

Harvest, Employment, Exports, and Prices in Pacific Northwest Forests, 1965–2007

Table 4—Volume and average value of softwood log exports from the Seattle Customs District to all countries,

by species, 1965–2007

Total Douglas-fir Western hemlock Other softwoods

Average Average Average Average

Year Volume value Volume value Volume value Volume value

Million board feet, value in dollars per thousand board feet

1965 618 72.13 65 68.87 a a 553 72.51

1966 720 77.52 80 73.25 a a 640 78.06

1967 1,069 83.71 173 80.32 a a 896 84.36

1968 1,321 97.69 252 98.62 a a 1,069 97.22

1969 1,309 112.75 258 113.73 a a 1,052 112.50

1970 1,579 122.52 308 120.00 a a 1,271 123.13

1971 1,320 123.00 294 119.35 a a 1,025 124.05

1972 1,907 132.57 566 129.17 a a 1,341 134.00

1973 1,833 245.41 555 217.52 a a 1,278 257.52

1974 1,424 263.40 405 255.84 a a 1,019 266.40

1975 1,427 263.91 437 255.94 a a 990 267.43

1976 1,793 273.43 528 268.98 a a 1,265 275.29

1977 1,675 314.30 556 308.29 a a 1,118 317.26

1978 1,916 332.89 620 342.70 a a 1,296 328.21

1979 2,250 440.68 732 453.14 1,247 409.17 270 552.23

1980 1,699 491.73 645 492.57 880 469.21 175 602.07

1981 1,316 429.80 579 460.85 624 391.35 113 482.47

1982 1,597 378.94 730 410.40 765 345.12 102 407.83

1983 1,740 333.67 796 341.97 824 312.24 119 426.69

1984 1,789 321.87 847 332.76 829 299.56 113 404.06

1985 1,879 312.41 844 329.10 939 289.12 95 393.88

1986 1,739 317.55 766 335.18 879 330.25 94 453.02

1987 2,064 369.69 983 380.10 965 337.39 115 551.91

1988 2,295 450.04 1,217 450.87 922 427.90 156 574.52

1989 2,357 443.37 1,158 489.66 1,030 373.67 169 558.47

1990 1,932 524.97 1,077 550.04 718 486.61 138 528.77

1991 1,548 544.62 834 588.90 623 481.21 92 572.24

1992 1,394 649.07 761 761.13 557 498.42 76 629.61

1993 958 952.85 558 1,036.09 345 836.42 55 837.66

1994 891 912.42 584 1,006.03 263 726.97 45 778.21

1995 999 856.28 574 1,034.48 354 619.71 71 596.66

1996 917 848.00 644 945.52 233 595.03 40 752.06

1997 599 807.84 377 901.56 192 627.12 31 784.23

1998 477 686.36 347 762.40 91 521.67 40 396.70
6

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-770

Table 4—Volume and average value of softwood log exports from the Seattle Customs District to all countries,

by species, 1965–2007 (continued)

Total Douglas-fir Western hemlock Other softwoods

Average Average Average Average

Year Volume value Volume value Volume value Volume value

Million board feet, value in dollars per thousand board feet

1999 435 692.07 322 748.75 85 515.93 28 573.47

2000 360 765.44 280 836.08 51 544.73 29 470.60

2001 290 632.60 208 726.31 41 436.18 41 354.08

2002 239 608.71 177 644.00 40 445.39 23 617.30

2003 177 587.23 121 667.34 36 389.33 20 397.26

2004 226 736.74 154 836.64 38 460.64 34 590.67

2005 195 786.77 135 874.25 25 555.01 35 552.86

2006 204 772.73 135 918.10 16 515.95 53 483.97

2007 313 625.92 133 842.57 70 530.13 109 422.45

a

 Prior to 1979, western hemlock was included in “Other softwoods.”

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce 1965–2007.
7

Harvest, Employment, Exports, and Prices in Pacific Northwest Forests, 1965–2007

Table 5—Volume and average value of softwood log exports from the Columbia-Snake Customs District to all

countries, by species, 1965–2007

Total Douglas-fir Western hemlock Other softwoods

Average Average Average Average

Year Volume value Volume value Volume value Volume value

Million board feet; value in dollars per thousand board feet

1965 283 91.36 45 73.44 a a 238 93.45

1966 389 92.70 48 80.54 a a 341 94.82

1967 502 99.97 93 76.91 a a 409 103.20

1968 653 112.72 116 85.78 a a 537 115.99

1969 561 128.39 99 97.29 a a 462 132.33

1970 637 137.29 144 110.08 a a 493 142.70

1971 517 137.16 122 118.55 a a 395 142.61

1972 730 145.05 201 119.91 a a 529 146.66

1973 806 303.63 309 140.75 a a 497 314.04

1974 766 310.21 311 286.66 a a 455 323.09

1975 798 284.61 329 291.51 a a 469 291.54

1976 944 301.73 418 275.20 a a 526 304.82

1977 881 340.94 410 298.10 a a 471 340.89

1978 931 380.48 520 340.51 a a 411 372.38

1979 984 496.62 577 387.37 229 538.65 178 408.65

1980 933 507.50 617 506.62 242 434.54 74 690.05

1981 671 472.80 438 513.91 184 364.40 49 827.71

1982 971 422.12 698 478.88 232 341.04 41 733.41

1983 852 366.21 621 430.85 187 313.29 44 580.89

1984 933 351.44 722 366.69 167 300.80 44 594.86

1985 1,125 342.58 905 348.59 173 295.28 47 547.45

1986 1,041 362.45 845 341.00 154 290.90 42 522.40

1987 1,104 436.96 861 367.70 185 346.87 58 692.24

1988 1,387 499.59 1,062 438.92 242 405.42 83 784.22

1989 1,257 539.73 876 498.91 321 338.15 60 1,009.60

1990 1,076 620.26 786 581.52 224 469.02 66 920.76

1991 994 606.18 741 637.93 195 446.77 58 885.12

1992 788 754.11 635 784.24 117 508.84 36 1,029.58

1993 750 1,024.97 613 1,055.45 109 784.21 28 1,290.32

1994 681 1,044.36 585 1,053.58 72 779.12 24 1,622.50

1995 606 1,080.47 540 1,104.61 50 728.06 16 1,316.13

1996 586 1,049.50 547 1,062.44 26 702.94 13 1,253.23

1997 443 912.16 413 918.05 21 668.74 9 1,259.89

1998 391 743.58 372 743.09 10 577.54 9 925.22
8

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-770

Table 5—Volume and average value of softwood log exports from the Columbia-Snake Customs District to all

countries, by species, 1965–2007 (continued)

Total Douglas-fir Western hemlock Other softwoods

Average Average Average Average

Year Volume value Volume value Volume value Volume value

Million board feet; value in dollars per thousand board feet

1999 359 793.62 347 792.89 6 587.74 6 1,126.00

2000 399 849.34 389 847.33 5 586.81 5 1,341.40

2001 352 748.44 346 749.21 5 483.92 1 1,871.00

2002 360 693.21 357 690.48 2 611.30 1 2,057.00

2003 385 690.55 367 690.33 2 458.51 16 657.50

2004 396 810.20 387 813.50 2 453.27 7 667.00

2005 341 837.49 339 836.35 1 620.80 1 1,569.00

2006 330 878.60 323 884.06 2 453.88 5 748.60

2007 361 739.74 339 755.68 19 454.80 3 693.37

a

 Prior to 1979, western hemlock was included in “Other softwoods.”

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce 1965–2007.
9

Harvest, Employment, Exports, and Prices in Pacific Northwest Forests, 1965–2007

Table 6—Volume and average value of chips exported from the ColumbiaSnake and Seattle Customs Districts, 1965–2007

Columbia-Snake Customs District Seattle Customs District

Average Average

Year Volume value Volume value

Short tons, on a dry-weight basis; value in dollars per short ton

1965 91,646 19.74 0 0

1966 219,181 19.68 0 0

1967 603,314 19.75 0 0

1968 1,102,669 20.25 112,132 22.23

1969 1,460,669 21.10 160,165 24.52

1970 1,605,062 19.31 238,757 19.56

1971 1,504,169 20.94 229,237 17.87

1972 2,081,032 22.12 168,725 19.56

1973 2,778,829 24.85 272,196 21.84

1974 3,177,465 26.50 390,370 28.62

1975 2,436,807 34.74 326,083 38.56

1976 2,881,577 39.90 457,801 33.39

1977 2,892,333 43.33 281,540 49.17

1978 2,650,423 42.98 299,140 46.16

1979 3,125,103 42.55 346,209 50.05

1980 2,849,927 88.44 268,103 79.53

1981 2,076,612 85.51 296,461 80.74

1982 1,914,439 83.31 328,374 79.27

1983 1,668,971 68.17 247,935 74.24

1984 1,632,815 70.96 216,089 76.89

1985 1,626,490 74.22 276,054 76.16

1986 1,577,739 72.02 446,226 73.97

1987 1,852,920 72.75 464,426 79.06

1988 2,015,988 78.06 681,811 89.24

1989 2,252,282 96.73 800,563 85.20

1990 2,081,199 95.84 744,397 95.51

1991 2,141,958 104.73 681,161 103.10

1992 1,766,502 106.84 583,141 101.28

1993 1,544,904 104.28 588,564 95.63

1994 1,563,772 102.46 755,872 75.78

1995 1,329,590 130.04 542,694 113.24

1996 1,230,966 108.51 589,989 95.97

1997 1,247,092 89.54 611,888 72.28

1998 1,076,786 96.78 835,594 62.27

1999 1,024,223 82.64 753,147 60.51

2000 992,062 94.01 461,874 78.54

2001 856,164 96.58 353,074 86.00

2002 893,184 84.31 262,395 71.10

2003 760,965 82.39 252,050 82.58

2004 744,356 75.89 330,760 62.28

2005 918,475 83.71 421,042 61.44

2006 841,646 92.67 198,292 47.57

2007 863,947 119.43 410,625 48.48

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce 1965–2007.
10

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-770

Table 7—Volume and average value of softwood lumber exports from the Seattle Customs District to all countries,

by species, 1965–2007

Total Douglas-fir Western hemlock Other softwoods

Average Average Average Average

Year Volume value Volume value Volume value Volume value

Million board feet; value in dollars per thousand board feet

1965 96 NA 62 NA 9 NA 25 NA

1966 98 NA 63 NA 3 NA 32 NA

1967 111 NA 68 NA 5 NA 38 NA

1968 104 NA 66 NA 6 NA 33 NA

1969 106 NA 70 NA 2 NA 34 NA

1970 136 NA 76 NA 12 NA 47 NA

1971 130 NA 89 NA 10 NA 32 NA

1972 164 177.86 100 195.96 22 98.99 43 176.10

1973 325 211.88 144 262.75 105 166.56 76 178.33

1974 332 242.67 174 267.93 79 205.45 78 224.26

1975 264 220.36 152 228.52 52 191.93 60 224.40

1976 312 260.23 155 280.33 95 217.02 62 275.88

1977 257 278.19 124 291.17 92 242.18 41 320.55

1978 310 290.19 129 309.81 118 266.70 63 294.06

1979 414 401.51 99 471.86 211 371.57 104 395.90

1980 522 324.62 107 361.19 271 310.48 144 324.13

1981 468 332.62 139 360.84 173 322.81 156 318.31

1982 473 301.01 117 308.04 237 291.53 119 313.02

1983 553 301.26 152 297.07 223 317.28 177 284.66

1984 423 314.01 121 322.95 162 304.50 140 317.24

1985 424 308.35 106 323.13 184 313.75 134 289.26

1986 747 329.03 193 348.17 355 320.86 199 325.01

1987 918 345.41 234 370.78 458 343.77 226 321.98

1988 1,047 346.21 330 363.75 426 348.28 291 323.32

1989 1,002 364.27 348 302.90 366 403.99 288 408.18

1990 886 424.64 300 438.20 293 416.25 294 421.18

1991 761 449.31 271 472.43 254 424.13 236 449.84

1992 617 491.47 244 529.45 209 415.66 163 531.85

1993 582 580.01 236 635.89 161 539.22 185 544.22

1994 536 637.48 238 704.12 146 639.14 152 531.39

1995 567 648.97 267 692.72 149 641.22 151 579.33

1996 568 687.84 299 748.39 148 642.48 120 593.20

1997 538 660.69 201 762.45 63 713.26 274 573.92

1998 282 609.74 99 657.84 25 728.43 158 560.64
11

Harvest, Employment, Exports, and Prices in Pacific Northwest Forests, 1965–2007

Table 7—Volume and average value of softwood lumber exports from the Seattle Customs District to all countries,

by species, 1965–2007 (continued)

Total Douglas-fir Western hemlock Other softwoods

Average Average Average Average

Year Volume value Volume value Volume value Volume value

Million board feet; value in dollars per thousand board feet

1999 238 667.69 89 696.10 30 852.32 118 598.95

2000 263 605.06 72 694.90 20 700.01 171 556.44

2001 201 603.65 47 638.86 10 497.93 143 599.34

2002 180 615.67 49 628.82 6 416.62 125 620.60

2003 194 650.94 45 616.71 6 500.13 143 667.65

2004 139 708.16 31 730.31 12 495.28 95 727.15

2005 128 749.90 37 809.29 5 588.46 87 733.82

2006 145 788.71 64 797.96 5 538.29 76 796.32

2007 196 771.84 104 777.40 10 496.03 82 796.31

NA = not available.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce 1965–2007.
12

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-770

Table 8—Volume and average value of softwood lumber exports from the Columbia-Snake Customs District to

all countries, by species, 1965–2007

Total Douglas-fir Western hemlock Other softwoods

Average Average Average Average

Year Volume value Volume value Volume value Volume value

Million board feet; value in dollars per thousand board feet

1965 242 NA 223 NA 11 NA 8 NA

1966 237 NA 215 NA 9 NA 13 NA

1967 246 NA 217 NA 9 NA 20 NA

1968 273 NA 238 NA 5 NA 29 NA

1969 246 NA 216 NA 9 NA 21 NA

1970 274 NA 228 NA 22 NA 24 NA

1971 204 NA 179 NA 12 NA 13 NA

1972 242 229.39 222 236.06 9 112.13 11 189.95

1973 475 309.68 389 327.79 65 188.54 21 349.63

1974 388 318.98 323 332.98 45 223.32 20 306.82

1975 353 295.09 263 315.86 73 216.16 16 315.10

1976 387 365.57 323 384.21 51 225.95 13 449.34

1977 292 394.31 249 412.17 33 236.43 10 469.56

1978 275 443.46 245 452.34 17 265.25 13 499.35

1979 426 631.60 328 699.47 69 393.73 29 542.65

1980 463 561.77 342 623.19 68 357.18 53 426.36

1981 466 441.75 312 470.44 95 379.24 59 390.55

1982 415 434.95 302 460.46 70 292.09 44 486.70

1983 469 418.66 361 445.80 72 272.89 37 478.61

1984 526 376.39 375 404.05 96 259.55 55 391.65

1985 482 357.69 321 389.09 118 265.39 43 375.97

1986 404 415.74 271 458.75 97 299.18 36 406.41

1987 535 456.08 361 495.76 109 345.85 65 420.01

1988 771 434.96 463 495.40 162 373.35 145 311.29

1989 942 506.07 598 555.17 170 428.19 173 412.88

1990 693 566.07 443 630.19 110 448.56 141 456.02

1991 669 574.47 455 625.94 117 438.65 98 497.84

1992 560 621.01 413 651.75 72 480.55 75 587.10

1993 493 735.58 367 764.90 51 575.84 75 700.60

1994 412 816.39 301 856.33 45 661.62 66 739.60

1995 454 763.18 342 771.91 39 630.34 73 793.66

1996 443 790.00 357 824.08 24 635.64 62 655.26

1997 332 763.69 198 857.46 14 546.54 121 636.06

1998 187 735.17 123 793.15 7 568.05 56 630.70
13

Harvest, Employment, Exports, and Prices in Pacific Northwest Forests, 1965–2007

Table 8—Volume and average value of softwood lumber exports from the Columbia-Snake Customs District to

all countries, by species, 1965–2007 (continued)

Total Douglas-fir Western hemlock Other softwoods

Average Average Average Average

Year Volume value Volume value Volume value Volume value

Million board feet; value in dollars per thousand board feet

1999 201 757.15 136 819.71 15 634.94 51 624.50

2000 201 744.92 138 837.92 14 531.41 49 543.71

2001 111 765.45 84 785.14 5 386.60 22 775.77

2002 69 713.31 41 750.72 8 422.54 19 759.88

2003 61 721.59 33 823.03 11 370.22 17 746.24

2004 52 834.77 33 946.86 5 363.63 14 751.05

2005 24 808.96 10 1,187.10 4 355.60 9 596.29

2006 26 838.57 12 1,164.87 1 614.39 14 573.18

2007 36 659.18 12 993.00 1 807.79 23 474.54

NA = not available.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce 1965–2007.
14

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-770 Table 9—Volume of sawtimber sold on national forests, by selected species, Pacific Northwest Region, 1965–2007 Douglas-fir Ponderosa Noble fir Other West East and Jeffrey Sugar White Lodgepole Engelmannn Sitka Western and Shasta true All Year side side pines pine pine pine spruce spruce hemlock Cedars Larch red fir firs species Thousand board feet, Scribner scale 1965 1,918,578 314,346 776,602 26,395 38,855 40,571 9,122 16,069 718,479 99,165 58,424 71,222 324,017 4,424,132 1966 1,966,836 296,528 774,379 35,211 37,706 49,107 10,819 7,196 755,726 116,614 67,216 105,202 401,666 4,683,387 1967 1,819,760 317,393 760,936 33,317 58,417 111,995 11,377 12,725 609,780 96,234 31,748 97,782 362,242 4,374,499 1968 2,040,381 358,069 698,117 42,421 34,938 71,794 12,695 14,025 745,522 112,993 28,986 79,316 358,078 4,637,869 1969 1,831,821 295,218 652,647 36,377 83,936 92,132 7,729 9,890 671,723 110,919 33,099 74,536 392,745 4,363,143 1970 2,062,934 367,393 837,457 42,367 90,768 125,942 23,387 12,161 699,558 124,067 85,265 120,792 479,973 5,128,462 1971 1,662,483 298,849 771,152 34,855 42,750 42,135 16,028 17,050 628,716 96,814 43,817 51,755 363,324 4,094,686 1972 1,985,962 262,267 754,423 33,772 29,637 95,781 9,967 11,956 688,977 115,783 34,217 53,589 412,988 4,517,127 1973 1,614,694 287,848 750,289 44,969 16,525 124,607 7,870 18,410 653,910 102,885 28,005 35,331 419,943 4,133,468 1974 1,735,849 305,767 700,673 35,603 24,696 62,862 7,149 13,690 677,822 72,024 21,214 42,297 451,138 4,175,910 1975 1,859,458 326,002 854,923 31,110 30,931 81,713 12,955 16,842 745,569 110,711 28,548 57,340 334,672 4,515,556

1976 1,268,830 230,006 629,486 21,120 28,891 60,821 7,453 4,824 576,844 71,443 36,670 67,680 253,979 3,281,3821977 1,714,208 268,450 761,204 31,474 22,352 109,875 7,961 14,097 708,569 105,596 21,400 52,141 352,265 4,182,9831978 1,862,836 372,649 837,907 40,184 15,461 63,415 23,894 14,592 676,873 105,477 33,929 56,742 468,281 4,591,047

1979 1,945,657 390,267 822,590 32,775 15,367 138,898 16,149 15,321 796,519 129,712 38,265 106,412 496,967 4,971,7971980 2,036,853 318,056 706,859 33,676 14,773 122,721 20,047 19,775 671,012 126,567 38,537 80,176 477,542 4,694,2201981 1,944,177 336,430 764,421 31,104 10,725 125,794 11,121 17,828 711,204 115,513 62,210 193,265 506,357 4,739,4301982 1,837,759 260,715 667,280 30,926 11,902 130,687 17,560 13,430 673,672 122,696 26,674 72,532 420,896 4,303,3741983 1,773,547 295,243 662,176 22,116 11,005 129,753 15,462 7,025 564,168 116,264 30,969 41,842 516,251 4,201,4571984 1,740,340 276,669 646,407 25,137 11,670 144,280 12,365 8,389 536,458 95,038 18,682 64,631 439,762 4,054,8331985 1,491,475 236,592 587,990 30,312 11,366 109,264 19,164 11,981 413,541 75,697 33,608 106,656 367,335 3,531,9081986 2,094,394 386,494 814,884 29,709 20,618 93,677 21,984 14,166 698,341 123,268 46,364 61,384 421,708 4,859,9781987 1,876,085 286,167 680,770 34,524 10,593 80,925 27,906 9,573 495,796 103,239 34,841 118,646 397,108 4,206,5021988 1,790,538 289,044 643,546 39,436 10,917 136,398 39,222 10,232 330,541 99,038 66,308 49,729 407,048 4,267,3561989 599,527 222,795 452,393 17,288 5,891 69,981 30,314 2,358 100,717 33,950 38,834 24,497 200,921 1,982,321

1990 1,931,649 269,703 513,635 25,035 6,581 158,096 24,965 3,360 278,068 71,847 69,441 41,829 384,564 4,270,5411991 124,078 94,537 211,308 1,050 561 86,157 11,480 322 41,324 8,551 25,920 9,085 152,952 799,4451992 131,359 70,198 113,187 1,328 695 73,563 1,600 251 39,227 6,696 9,452 7,186 69,772 534,9681993 113,985 43,974 150,418 2,886 178 20,082 4,356 61 7,272 3,596 2,350 1,007 47,025 412,7001994 59,333 37,560 21,418 1,847 332 31,501 1,816 45 9,454 3,126 10,251 1,305 27,009 222,121

1995 161,107 72,291 87,349 2,885 985 31,194 1,568 176 29,358 8,012 7,953 19,606 51,284 499,8711996 66,447 319,093 89,490 15,443 824 34,968 1,870 279 32,291 3,326 12,484 10,883 128,497 769,5121997 61,852 179,294 55,173 2,086 2,560 17,884 82 1,186 24,553 2,243 3,374 11,156 50,661 452,3321998 31,883 115,978 90,082 299 535 41,860 47 937 17,235 2,204 1,142 3,369 89,777 413,4151999 18,922 92,888 58,382 380 898 33,223 196 7 10,241 1,450 2,375 4,970 36,114 278,4392000 23 63,493 34,857 157 0 15,880 7 10 182 1,283 38 0 37,894 155,0842001 12,326 55,614 21,642 19 0 35,418 669 0 7,954 1,093 678 0 28,276 170,7712002 24,665 110,040 28,268 0 19 23,311 0 1,094 11,408 1,133 4,165 3,339 31,942 170,7712003 20,523 191,225 32,050 462 25 22,887 958 5 33,855 4,451 11 90 37,639 352,3372004 8,969 201,727 121,327 3,897 25 13,394 12 294 23,232 2,871 188 272 68,296 456,744

2005 3,582 214,629 66,758 0 24 13,919 819 0 20,323 4,040 68 0 58,978 387,9882006 0 237,614 58,122 7 127 33,937 1,334 0 19,021 2,514 356 736 63,186 417,1012007 0 286,868 60,965 0 19 27,325 454 0 36,795 4,430 97 2,206 38,617 461,018Source: USDA Forest Service, 1965–2007; Includes Oregon and Washington and a small portion of northern California.
15

Harvest, Employment, Exports, and Prices in Pacific Northwest Forests, 1965–2007

Table 10—Average stumpage prices for sawtimber sold on national forests, by selected species, Pacific Northwest Region, 1965–2007

Douglas-fir Ponderosa Noble fir Other

West East and Jeffrey Sugar White Lodgepole Engelmann Sitka Western and Shasta true All

Year side side pines pine pine pine spruce spruce hemlock Cedars Larch red fir firs species

Dollars per thousand board feet

1965 42.60 10.20 18.40 14.40 22.00 8.40 6.20 22.80 19.10 15.90 8.90 20.90 10.20 27.501966 50.00 11.80 21.10 23.20 24.60 3.40 6.40 32.00 20.60 16.20 9.20 28.80 12.40 31.501967 41.70 9.60 19.10 21.10 24.60 3.20 12.20 22.20 21.80 53.90 8.50 20.40 12.90 28.001968 61.20 20.10 23.90 27.90 30.10 10.40 22.00 34.20 35.60 22.40 18.30 38.60 31.20 42.401969 82.20 32.20 46.60 58.20 56.70 15.10 30.40 19.70 45.10 40.10 30.40 46.10 42.60 58.801970 41.90 8.40 20.30 30.00 37.30 4.20 3.90 11.70 20.50 14.70 10.90 15.10 11.80 26.701971 49.10 4.40 22.30 23.10 22.30 5.20 8.00 18.10 20.60 17.20 5.30 24.60 12.20 30.101972 71.70 15.60 38.40 26.00 35.80 10.60 27.20 28.00 49.00 67.50 13.50 100.20 33.00 53.201973 138.10 60.40 77.70 60.50 50.70 38.40 55.60 93.40 99.20 146.80 53.90 81.40 73.80 102.801974 202.40 68.20 110.60 139.10 121.00 25.70 50.20 72.60 110.80 217.00 11.00 136.20 80.90 142.401975 169.50 34.30 43.10 109.90 84.40 15.40 13.70 75.90 68.50 119.20 5.80 117.70 45.10 101.601976 176.20 38.60 79.40 118.90 116.00 40.20 10.50 83.10 78.10 160.30 20.30 105.60 55.00 113.201977 225.90 71.20 138.40 162.80 142.70 35.40 36.50 103.00 89.20 149.60 62.10 128.90 85.10 153.801978 250.31 98.50 218.70 207.90 123.70 41.60 85.40 109.50 111.70 206.60 56.40 122.50 99.10 185.001979 394.30 81.70 238.00 237.30 181.90 47.10 51.60 227.90 197.10 329.10 90.50 211.30 189.80 270.001980 432.20 70.80 190.80 167.00 102.80 44.60 34.20 306.50 208.00 301.00 43.60 241.80 167.90 285.501981 350.20 94.00 206.40 174.50 100.60 36.60 15.00 238.00 162.00 168.70 69.70 147.30 103.80 230.601982 118.20 5.80 78.60 83.60 50.00 17.40 19.50 49.50 44.60 101.90 37.50 28.40 40.00 80.201983 161.60 37.60 134.30 131.80 74.30 20.20 28.70 30.00 61.90 88.70 31.80 42.40 58.30 112.501984 132.90 43.00 143.70 201.80 93.20 21.20 21.00 52.10 61.20 186.60 42.50 92.60 43.50 94.601985 126.20 32.20 166.00 192.60 109.30 14.20 18.40 77.70 50.00 123.70 50.60 57.60 41.20 101.401986 160.70 34.10 196.30 199.10 116.70 9.40 38.10 93.90 74.10 156.30 48.50 84.30 47.70 127.901987 190.20 46.00 267.10 300.60 220.10 18.00 24.00 81.20 103.70 192.40 46.30 101.90 63.70 161.501988 256.04 83.52 295.45 253.55 236.83 40.38 51.92 98.28 161.86 259.18 80.74 134.21 89.94 206.401989 389.80 161.60 323.44 292.91 272.66 68.90 105.94 87.51 222.47 158.06 132.73 203.00 149.42 268.371990 466.35 149.07 297.78 341.35 262.42 59.39 96.80 138.53 203.04 266.30 141.66 407.83 161.08 330.001991 394.95 110.03 322.50 335.70 187.53 92.40 141.31 219.92 164.10 284.94 94.24 279.49 142.37 224.611992 477.21 183.78 487.91 454.16 239.47 103.74 143.96 176.17 164.68 231.76 258.95 193.34 183.42 309.121993 317.75 254.53 595.26 531.45 518.59 156.52 82.08 524.91 363.66 367.31 352.47 341.51 333.72 407.961994 652.36 307.87 318.20 588.27 763.67 155.72 216.00 376.68 334.80 363.51 482.19 449.81 250.13 394.141995 453.38 143.57 253.19 433.58 488.33 136.01 146.22 175.10 291.84 86.56 271.48 285.36 217.78 295.341996 398.98 267.68 165.67 58.21 328.74 96.62 60.19 107.67 221.28 497.17 217.49 204.30 139.36 231.781997 291.26 284.50 164.38 394.16 250.67 144.24 109.56 109.04 191.38 1,174.33 156.28 227.50 128.18 240.46

1998 201.64 199.64 122.17 473.97 233.02 82.66 56.07 74.99 101.41 268.01 218.60 165.08 84.17 139.301999 393.98 202.87 139.91 127.31 270.75 94.92 62.15 93.23 77.69 196.44 278.23 273.58 127.35 180.672000 747.86 123.20 111.36 397.16 0 144.98 84.59 139.46 158.32 560.04 65.16 0 97.38 120.632001 255.38 127.66 83.98 177.15 0 101.62 257.05 0 56.14 283.17 156.14 0 62.38 116.312002 152.56 189.52 87.75 0 10.00 149.59 0 85.71 64.71 329.65 177.18 24.43 62.63 158.742003 236.85 146.15 54.99 75.91 125.86 77.24 79.83 23.85 92.86 170.69 120.00 633.41 47.50 121.362004 105.15 138.35 93.47 98.63 274.46 100.18 65.00 173.91 50.52 113.61 86.83 75.29 74.85 107.312005 331.81 161.00 80.77 0 206.34 102.35 119.67 0 71.80 254.08 284.29 0 91.22 130.602006 0 146.30 72.72 40.38 262.63 114.07 183.04 0 82.92 381.81 275.99 253.00 85.79 123.24

2007 0 110.61 53.27 0 393.55 112.78 242.91 0 22.18 201.55 280.37 79.12 98.25 95.94Source: USDA Forest Service 1965–2007, includes Oregon and Washington and a small portion of northern California.
16

GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT PNW-GTR-770

Common Name Scientific Name

Cedars Juniperus spp.

Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco

Engelmann spruce Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.

Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.

Larch Larix spp.

Lodgepole pine Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.

Noble fir Abies procera Rehd.

Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.

Shasta red fir Abies shastensis (Lemmon)

Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.

Sugar pine Pinus lambertiana Dougl.

True firs Abies spp.

Western hemlock Tsuga heterophylla (Rof.) Sarg.

Whitebark pine Pinus albicaulis Engelm.

Metric Equivalents

When you know: Multiply by: To get:

Board feet (logs) 4.53 Cubic meters

Board feet (lumber) 2.36 Cubic meters

Tons (short) .907 Metric tons

Literature Cited

Aust, P. 2008. Personal communication. Economist, Washington Department of

Natural Resources, Financial Management, MS: 47041, Olympia, WA 98504.

Washington state timber harvest.Http://www.egov.oregon.gov/odf (5 May)

Austin, J.W. 1968–70. Production, prices, employment, and trade in Northwest

forest industries. Resour. Bull. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Quarterly.

Darr, D.R. 1970–72. Production, prices, employment, and trade in Northwest

forest industries. Resour. Bull. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Quarterly.

Hamilton, T.E. 1964–68. Production, prices, employment, and trade in Northwest

forest industries. Resour. Bull. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Quarterly.
17

Harvest, Employment, Exports, and Prices in Pacific Northwest Forests, 1965–2007

Holt, E.C. 1972–74. Production, prices, employment, and trade in Northwest forest

industries. Resour. Bull. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest

Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Quarterly.

Lettman, G. 2008. Oregon state timber harvest. Http://www.egov.oregon.gov/odf/

resource planning, timber harvest. (4 February)

Oregon Employment Department. 1965–2007. Oregon labor trends. Salem, OR:

Workforce and Economic Research Division. Http://www.QualityInfo.org.

Monthly publication.

Ruderman, F.K. 1974–85. Production, prices, employment, and trade in Northwest forest industries. Resour. Bull. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Quarterly.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service [USDA Forest Service].

1965–2007. Forest Service. Portland, OR: Region 6 Natural Resource Division.

Http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/fp/FPWebPage/FP70104A.htm. Web site updated

quarterly.

U.S. Department of Commerce. 1965–2007. Foreign Trade Division of Economics and Statistics Administration. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau. Http://

dataweb.usitc.gov/. Web site updated monthly.

Warren, D.D. 1985–2007. Production, prices, employment, and trade in Northwest

forest industries. Resour. Bull. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture,

Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Quarterly.

Washington State Employment Security Department. 1965–2007. Washington

Labor Market Quarterly Review. Olympia, WA: Labor Market and Economic

Analysis. Http://www.workforceexplorer.com. Quarterly publication.
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