Recent Trends in the 

Asian Forest Products 

Trade and Their Impact 

on Alaska

Joseph A. Roos, Daisuke Sasatani, Allen M. Brackley, 

and Valerie Barber1

United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Forest Service

Pacific Northwest 

Research Station

Research Note

PNW-RN-564

June 2010

DEPAR TMENT OF AGRICULT URE

1 Joseph A. Roos is a research associate and Daisuke Sasatani is a research assistant, 

University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105; Allen M. Brackley is a research forester, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 

Alaska Wood Utilization Research and Development Center, 204 Siginaka Way, Sitka, 

AK 99835; and Valerie Barber is an assistant professor, Forest Products Program, 

University of Alaska Fairbanks, Palmer, AK 99645. 

Abstract

This paper analyzes patterns of forest products trade between Asia and Alaska. 

Secondary data were collected and analyzed to identify Alaska forest product 

trading partners and the species used. Some of the many trends occurring in 

the Asian forest products industry include the shift from solid wood products to 

engineered wood products, the evolution of China as “the factory to the world” 

where low-cost labor enables manufacturers to produce price-competitive wood 

products that are shipped to markets throughout the globe, and the entry of Russia, 

Europe, Asia, and Southern Hemisphere nations into the market with both log 

and lumber products. In spite of the global economic downturn, forest products 

exports from several suppliers are increasing. Analysis of U.S. trade data indicates 

that exports of spruce (Picea spp.), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) 

Sarg.), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), and western redcedar 

(Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) logs remain strong. Likewise, Douglas-fir, western 

hemlock, and western redcedar lumber exports are also improving. Douglas-fir 

lumber exports to Japan and western hemlock lumber exports to South Korea 

showed strong recent gains. The outlook for continued increases in forest products 

exports to Asia is strong, and the authors recommend a coordinated Alaska forest 

products market effort targeting China, South Korea, and Japan. 

Keywords: Forest products, lumber, export, timber, Japan, China, Korea.
2

Research note pnw-rn-564

Introduction

The three largest forest products import countries in the world are the United 

States, Japan, and China. In 2008, the value of forest products imported by these 

countries was US$7.5 billion for the United States, US$5.3 billion for Japan, and 

US$4.2 billion for China (GTI 2009). Another key forest products market is Europe. 

In 2008, Germany, France, United Kingdom, and Italy imported a combined total 

value of US$14.2 billion of forest products (harmonized code 4400) (GTI 2009). A 

general trade pattern has developed where logs are exported to China from North 

America, Europe, and Asia, and finished forest products are exported from China 

to the United States, Japan, and Europe. Alaska forest products are an important 

part of this trade pattern, and it is important that Alaska manufacturers understand 

where their competitive advantages lie within this trade pattern. The purpose of this 

paper is to examine the Alaska, China, Japan trade pattern and the opportunities for 

Alaska forest products.

In the United States, forest products producers are currently experiencing one 

of the worst economic downturns since World War II. In 2008, there were 904,300 

U.S. housing starts, which was a 56 percent decline from 2.1 million in 2005. 

As a result of the depressed housing market, lumber prices have also fallen to a 

historic low. According to the Random Lengths Lumber Composite Price Index 

(Random Lengths 2008), lumber prices in 2008 were approximately 50 percent 

below 2004 levels (fig. 1). One strategy for U.S. suppliers to offset losses as a result 

of the economic downturn is to export. A well-planned export strategy can provide 

market diversification, which can help companies lessen the losses associated with 

economic downturns. However, embarking on an export venture is not a simple 

endeavor. Cunningham and Eastin’s (2002) survey of North American exporters 

found that a successful export strategy requires a strong marketing commitment 

including translating product literature and providing strong customer support, 

after-sale service, and market maintenance. Individual foreign markets also have 

their own unique challenges. In China, for example, many construction projects are 

controlled by government agencies. Therefore, understanding government policy 

and establishing relationships with government officials is often critical to success 

(Cao et al. 2006). 

One example of how exporting has helped a mill during this economic downturn is the Native American tribe-owned Warm Springs Forest Products Mill2

located in Oregon. In April of 2008, poor sales forced Warm Springs mill managers 

2 The use of firm or trade names in this publication is for reader information and does not 

imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or service. 
3

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Housing starts (millions)

Lumber price

(dollars per thousand board feet) 

Year

Housing starts Lumber price

19951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008

Figure 1—United States housing starts and lumber prices (Random Lengths 2008, U.S. Census 

Bureau 2009).

to lay off 115 workers. Following the initial round of layoffs, Warm Springs 

managers leased the mill to Vanport International with the agreement to cut lumber 

exclusively for the Japanese market (Nadvornick 2009). Vanport was established in 

1967 and has been supplying lumber cut to Japanese dimensions and grades since 

the early 1970s. Vanport understood that Warm Spring’s tight vertical grain logs 

could be manufactured into lumber products that are in high demand in Japan. 

Vanport implemented a strategy of manufacturing specialty Japanese lumber rather 

than commodity lumber, and this allowed the mill to rehire workers and increase 

mill employment to 122 workers. 

The manufacturing of value-added forest products has been shifting to China 

since the late 1990s. China’s cheap labor and capital costs have given Chinese 

manufacturers an extreme advantage compared to their higher cost competitors 

(Cao et al. 2006). China imports large quantities of logs to supply its domestic 

processors. In 2007, China’s two largest forest product suppliers were Russia, with 

a 37.2-percent share, and the United States, with a 7.5-percent share of China’s total 

imports (harmonized code 4400) (GTI 2009). The logs are milled in China and 

the finished forest products are then exported. In 2007, China’s two largest forest 

product export markets were the United States, with a 26-percent share, and Japan, 
4

Research note pnw-rn-564

with a 13.5-percent share. The United States has lost significant share of its 

value-added wood products market in Japan to China.

There are a number of recent developments in the global forest products 

market that could be advantageous for Alaska forest products manufacturers. 

First, between December 2006 and December 2008, the U.S. dollar devalued 

approximately 23 percent against the Japanese yen, making U.S. forest products 

substantially cheaper. Second, on January 1, 1997, Russia imposed a log export 

tax. The tax was scheduled to increase to 80 percent on January 1, 2009, but the 

increase was postponed and the duty remains at 25 percent (Random Lengths 

International 2008). The Russian log export tax and uncertainty over how much 

it will increase has Japanese and Chinese forest products companies searching 

for new suppliers to reduce their reliance on Russian timber. Third, Alaska has 

increased their kiln-drying capacity from an estimated 94,000 board feet (21 

cubic meters) in 2000, to an estimated 220,000 board feet (49 cubic meters) 

(Nicholls et al. 2006). As in the United States, the Japanese market has shifted 

from using green lumber to kiln-dried lumber for most residential construction 

applications, and increased kiln-drying capacity opens up more opportunity in 

the Japanese market (Sasatani et al. 2005).

Economic Background

In 2008, the global economy continued to suffer from events triggered by the 

2007 subprime credit crisis and overall stagnant demand. Stock markets around 

the globe plunged (fig. 2), and reduced consumer confidence. Additionally, commodity prices, as measured by the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index, declined 

sharply in 2008, reflecting reduced demand for raw materials (fig. 3). 

The forest products industry has been deeply affected by this economic 

crisis. With credit tight and consumer confidence at historical lows, U.S. housing 

starts in 2008 and 2009 were at the lowest levels since the government began 

keeping records in 1959. Housing starts are the primary driver for softwood lumber demand, and as housing starts fell, so did lumber prices (see fig. 1). Although 

the housing sector remains sluggish, in the second half of 2009, the United States 

emerged from its recession with third quarter economic growth at 2.2 percent 

and fourth quarter economic growth at 5.7 percent (BEA 2010).
5

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

Date

Jan-00

Jul-00

Jan-01

Jul-01

Jan-02

Jul-02

Jan-03

Jul-03

Jan-04

Jul-04

Jan-05

Jul-05

Jan-06

Jul-06

Jan-07

Jul-07

Jan-08

Jul-08

Jan-09

Jul-09

Jan-10

Stock price index (January 2000 = 100)

400

360

320

280

240

200

160

120

80

40

Shanghai Composite

Hang Seng (Hong Kong)

Nikkei 225 (Japan)

S&P 500 (United States)

Figure 2—United States and East Asia major stock market indices. The SSE Composite Index is used 

for Shanghai Composite and includes 50 Chinese companies (Yahoo! Finance 2009).

Figure 3—Commodity prices. In January 2008, DJ-AIG Commodity Index weights were 

20.8 percent petroleum, 12.2 percent natural gas, 18.0 percent grains, 2.8 percent vegetable oils, 

7.4 percent livestock, 10.1 percent precious metals, 20.0 percent industrial metals, and 8.7 percent 

soft commodity (Dow Jones 2008).

Date

Dec-97

Nov-98

Nov-99

Nov-00Nov-01

Nov-02

Nov-03

Nov-04

Nov-05

Nov-06

Nov-07

Nov-08

Index (January 1998 = 100)

Dow Jones Commodity Index

220

200

180

160

140

120

100

80

60
6

Research note pnw-rn-564

China’s Economic Background 

China is one of the world’s leading suppliers of value-added wood products. It is 

also one of the world’s largest consumer markets (USITC 2009). In late 1978, the 

Communist Party of China began shifting the economy from a centrally planned, 

Soviet-style economy to a market-oriented economy. The Chinese economy was 

still suffering from the effects of the “Cultural Revolution” (1966–1976) and the 

“Great Leap Forward policy” (1957–1960). To jump start the economy and encourage companies to improve their productivity and profitability, Deng Xiaoping, the 

leader of the Communist Party, introduced the “socialism with Chinese characteristics” program. This was an effort to encourage state-run entities to increase productivity. The initial problem with this reform was motivating workers to increase 

production of goods and services. Production incentives were added that eventually 

helped improve efficiency. 

In 1979, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Shantou (Swatou) in Guangdong (Canton) 

Province and Xiamen (Amoy) in Fujian Province were named special economic 

zones (SEZ), which were designed to attract foreign capital (fig. 4). Foreign companies wishing to establish businesses in these SEZs were required to establish 

joint ventures with Chinese firms. The benefits of the SEZ included preferential tax 

treatment and greater business autonomy for foreign firms. For example, foreign 

companies located within a SEZ were exempt from import tariffs and corporate 

taxes for the first 3 years of operation. Most of the first SEZs were concentrated on 

the southern coast of China neighboring cities known as international finance and 

business hubs such as Hong Kong and Macau. 

China’s programs to attract foreign direct investment were successful, and 

in 1984 the Communist Party opened the following 14 coastal cities to foreign 

direct investment: Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, Lianyunggang, Nantong, Shanghai, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, and 

Beihai. These areas, although open for foreign direct investment, did not offer tax 

incentives and other benefits granted to the SEZs. Since 1988, China’s open foreign 

direct investment policy has been expanded to the economic zones of the Yangtze 

River Delta, Pearl River Delta, the Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou Triangle in south 

Fujian, Shangdong Peninsula, Liaodong Peninsula, Hebei, and Guangxi. Then, 

Hainan Island became the fifth SEZ in 1988. Although it is not an official SEZ, 

Pudong New District in Shanghai established similar incentives for foreign companies in the early 1990s. Pudong is now one of the most attractive Chinese locations 

for foreign investment. 
7

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

In the 1980s, the Communist Party changed from a “centralized price-controlled 

economy” to a “price-driven market economy.” This new market system relied 

on a dual-track pricing system, where the prices of some goods and services were 

controlled by the state and others were decided by the free market. Gradually, China 

increased the portion of goods and services that were priced by the market. 

In 1989, the Tian’an-men Square incident temporarily interrupted China’s 

economic reform (Wu 1997). However, economic reforms resumed in the 1990s 

as the Communist Party reformed the banking system, gradually began to close 

unprofitable state-owned enterprises, and eventually allowed foreign investors to 

establish wholly foreign-owned enterprises. 

In 2001, China became a member of the World Trade Organization, and the 

central government strengthened trade liberalization policies. The result of China’s 

economic development was the creation of a unique economic system that could 

be called “controlled capitalism.” This is a hybrid economy, where both socialism 

Figure 4—People’s Republic of China and its special economic zones (SEZ). Map is based on 

China Administrative Regions geographic information system data (Liu et al. 1996). SAR = 

special administrative region.
8

Research note pnw-rn-564

and capitalism play important roles. Deng Xiaoping summed up the system in an 

October 1985 Beijing speech when he said, “Let some people get rich first” and this 

will lead to prosperity for others (Fan 2007).

The Chinese currency (yuan) is called the renmin-bi (RMB) in China, which is 

literally translated as “the people’s currency.” When inflation rose above 20 percent 

in 1984, the Communist Party responded by implementing an economic stabilization plan that included fixing the RMB at 8.28 RMB to 1 U.S. dollar. Although the 

policy reduced inflation substantially, China has been criticized by the international 

community for unfairly keeping prices of Chinese goods low through the fixed 

exchange rate. 

China faced another economic challenge with the 1997 Asian financial crisis, 

which devaluated many Asian countries’ currencies and sent much of Asia into a 

recession. Premier Zhu Rongji stated that China would not devalue their currency 

in reaction to the Asian financial crisis, and the RMB remained pegged to the U.S. 

dollar until July 21, 2005. On this date, the People’s Bank of China announced that 

the RMB would be pegged to a basket of foreign currencies rather than strictly 

being pegged to the U.S. dollar. The RMB would be pegged to the basket of other 

currencies, but it would be allowed to trade within a narrow 0.3-percent band daily 

(People’s Bank of China 2005). China has stated that the major currencies in the 

basket include the U.S. dollar, euro, Japanese yen, South Korean won, and British 

pound sterling. Other currencies were also included such as the Thai baht, Russian 

ruble, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, and Malaysian ringgit (Yan and Lam 

2005). Although the official policy is to allow the currency to float within the official band, one of the main objectives of the Communist Party is job creation, and 

it appears the Chinese government pursues policies to keep the RMB artificially 

cheap against other currencies in order to stimulate exports and create more jobs. 

Consequently, one major challenge to China’s exchange rate policy is accumulation of foreign reserves and its effect on their trading partners. China exports more 

than it imports, thus producing a trade surplus and an accumulation of foreign 

reserves (fig. 5). Also, foreign direct investment in China exceeds China’s direct 

investment abroad. China’s trade surplus has caused friction with the United States 

and other trading partners. 

The main question with respect to the future of the RMB is if it will remain a 

managed float system or move toward a market-based free-float system. The weakening of the U.S. dollar has placed tremendous upward pressure on the RMB. As of 

January 2009, the RMB was trading at 6.84 RMB to 1 U.S. dollar, which is about 

a 17 percent increase from 8.28 RMB fixed level (fig. 6). This indicates the policy 

stance of the People's Bank of China is to reduce inflationary pressures by allowing 
9

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

Figure 5—China’s trade surplus and foreign direct investment. The 2008 figure is from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), and 2009 and 2010 figures are forecasted by EIU (EIU 2010).

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

U.S. billion dollars 

Year

199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008

2009f

2010f

Trade surplus

Foreign direct investment inflow

Figure 6—Chinese renmin-bi (RMB), Japanese yen, and New Zealand dollar indexed to the U.S. 

dollar (January 2000 = 100) (Federal Reserve Bank of New York 2009). Foreign exchange index versus U.S. dollar (January 2000 = 100) 

Chinese yuan (renmin-bi)

Japanese yen

New Zealand dollar

Date

Jan-00

Jul-00

Jan-01

Jul-01

Jan-02

Jul-02

Jan-03

Jul-03

Jan-04

Jul-04

Jan-05

Jul-05

Jan-06

Jul-06

Jan-07

Jul-07

Jan-08

Jul-08

Jan-09

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

the RMB to appreciate faster (Kwan 2008). Milton Friedman (1953) stated in the 

Trilemma Theory that countries can purse two of the following three objectives: 

free capital movement, stabilization of exchange rates, and independent domestic 

monetary policy. The important point is that, although all three are desirable, only 

two can be pursued simultaneously because these are contradictory objectives. In 
10

Research note pnw-rn-564

order to control inflation via monetary policy, China may soon reach the conclusion 

that it must allow its currency to float freely. 

China’s 2008 gross domestic product (GDP) growth was 9.6 percent and was 

estimated to be 8.7 percent in 2009 (EIU 2010). Economic growth is extremely 

important to China because the government fears that high unemployment will 

lead to social unrest. In 2008, China’s estimated unemployment rate was 9 percent 

(fig. 7). China’s employment is heavily dependent on global economic growth, 

and Chinese officials are extremely worried about the global economic slowdown. 

Another important consideration is China’s labor rate relative to other developing 

Asian nations. 

Figure 7—China’s economic indicators (EIU 2010); e = estimate, f = forecast, GDP = gross domestic 

product, CPI = consumer price index.

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Real GDP (trillion U.S. dollars)

Percent

Year

199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008

2009e

2010f

Real GDP

Real GDP growth

CPI

Unemployment rate

As China’s GDP per capita has increased, labor costs have also increased and 

are estimated to increase further in the next several years (fig. 8). These costs are 

rising faster than those of other developing Asian countries (fig. 9). For example, 

between 1997 and 2007, Indonesian labor costs rose only slightly, whereas China’s 

labor costs increased by almost four times. As shown in figure 9, China is predicted 

to surpass Malaysia as the highest wage nation among the Asian developing countries by 2011. Labor cost is one of the major factors of the nation’s competitiveness 

in terms of manufacturing (Sasatani, n.d.). This could send low-wage manufacturing jobs from China to countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. 
11

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

0

1

2

3

4

5

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

Hourly labor cost (U.S. dollars)

GDP per capita PPP (U.S. dollars)

GDP (PPP) per capita

Hourly labor cost

Year

19971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

2008e 2009f

2010f2011f2012f2013f

10,000

Figure 8—China’s gross domestic product (GDP) adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) per 

capita and labor costs (EIU 2010); e = estimate, f = forecast.

Figure 9—Hourly wages in Asian developing countries (EIU 2010; Sasatani, n.d.); 

e = estimate; f = forecast.

Year

19971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

2008

2009e

2010f2011f2012f2013f

0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Hourly labor cost (U.S. dollars)

Malaysia

China

Thailand

Philippines

India

Indonesia
12

Research note pnw-rn-564

In an effort to prop up the economy and reduce unemployment, China’s central government announced a $584 billion economic stimulus package aimed at 

infrastructure and housing development in November of 2008. This is expected to 

be followed by another stimulus package in 2009. Another step China has taken to 

stimulate the economy is to aggressively cut interest rates. China cut the benchmark 

1-year lending rate five times in 3 months, with the latest cut of 0.27 percentage 

point on December 23, 2008. This reduced China’s benchmark 1-year lending 

to 2.25 percent, which is the lowest it has been since 2004. However, in order to 

avoid inflation, China may raise the benchmark rate if inflation rises above the 

2.25 percent benchmark rate (Reuters 2010). The future of China’s economy will 

rely largely on how well the central government can manage this current economic 

crisis. 

Japan’s Economic Background

As with many other countries, Japan is suffering one of the worst recessions since 

World War II. In November of 2008, Japanese annual industrial output declined 

8.1 percent and exports plummeted by 27 percent compared to the previous year 

(Dickson 2008). This is occurring just as the Japanese economy was recovering 

from what is called “Japan’s lost decade.” In 1990, the bubble of an inflated 

Japanese economy burst, resulting in a period characterized by slow economic 

growth, bad debt, and deflation. The Japanese economy recovered and returned to 

growth from 2003 to 2007 (fig. 10). However, Japanese GDP growth in 2008 was a 

negative 1.2 percent and 2009 is estimated to be a negative 5.5 percent (EIU 2010). 

This will be coupled with an increase in unemployment, which was predicted to 

increase from 4.1 percent in 2008 to approximately 5 percent in 2009 (fig. 11). 

Japan, similar to China, has a trade surplus with the rest of the world (even with 

China), which has caused friction with their trading partners (fig. 12). In contrast to 

the United States, where the economy is driven in large part by domestic consumer 

spending, Japan’s economic growth relies largely on exports. As shown in figure 13, 

overall export growth has substantially exceeded domestic demand growth. There 

are many factors that have contributed to this, but two of the main causes are strong 

global demand for Japanese products and a relatively undervalued yen. However, 

Japan’s trade surplus is estimated to be 65 billion dollars in 2008, which is a sharp 

decrease from 105 billion dollars trade surplus in 2007 (EIU 2010).

One recent development is that Japan is now less reliant on the United States 

and more reliant on other Asian trading partners. In 2006, Japan’s biggest trade 

surplus was with the following regions: United States (+$77,580 million), Hong 

Kong (+$34,948 million), European Union (+$29,536 million), Taiwan (+$23,807 
13

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

Figure 10—Japan’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth and the consumer price index (CPI) 

(EIU 2010); e = estimate, f = forecast.

Figure 11—Japan’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth per capita and the unemployment rate. 

Data for 2009 and 2010 are estimated by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU 2010); PPP = purchasing 

power parity, e = estimate.

5.5

5.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Changes from previous year (percent)

Year

199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008

2009e

2010f

Real GDP changes

CPI changes

3.5

3.0

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

Unemployment rate (percent)

GDP (1,000 U.S. dollars at PPP)

35

30

25

20

15

10

Year

199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008

2009e2010e

GDP (PPP) per capita

Unemployment rate
14

Research note pnw-rn-564

Figure 12—Japan’s trade surplus. Note: total goods imports + trade surplus = total goods exports 

(EIU 2010, Japanese Cabinet Office 2009), e = estimate, f = forecast.

Figure 13—Components of Japan’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth (Japanese Cabinet 

Office 2009). 

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Billion U.S. d

ollars

Year

199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008

2009e

2010f

Good imports

Trade surplus

0

-1

-2

-3

1

2

3

4

Change in GDP (percent)

Real GDP

Domestic demand

Exports

Imports

Year

1995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

2008
15

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

million), South Korea (+$22,976 million), and Singapore (+$11,875 million). It 

is important to note the impact other Asian countries have on Japan’s economy. 

Combined, Japan’s trade surplus with Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and 

Singapore was $93,606 million in 2005, which exceeds Japan’s trade surplus with 

the United States (Roos et al. 2008b). Ultimately, this export diversity will reduce 

Japan’s reliance on the North American market.

Forest Products Trade Patterns 

Globalization has resulted in major changes to the forest products industry. For 

example, in the 1980s, U.S. producers exported large quantities of lumber directly 

to Japan. During the 1990s, European forest products companies aggressively 

entered the Japanese market, and the United States lost tremendous market share. 

Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) posts from the United States 

were replaced by lower priced European laminated posts. In addition to price, 

changing legislation in Japan has also played a role. In 2000, Japan enacted the 

Housing Quality Assurance Act (HQAA) and this required homebuilders to 

provide a 10-year warranty for homebuyers. As a result, Japanese builders began 

to use materials that would minimize claims from homeowners under the HQAA. 

Glulam beams were seen by builders as stable material that would reduce claims 

arising from the warping and twisting of lumber. Thus, many builders switched 

from solid sawn beams to glulam beams, and this had a negative impact on the 

demand for Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) (Roos et al. 

2008b). 

Solid Douglas-fir and western hemlock posts were traditionally referred to in 

the trade as “baby squares” (Evans 2000). It is interesting to note that a large portion of the solid posts have been replaced by laminated posts made from European 

white woods. Material now flowing to Japan includes both laminated posts and 

laminating stock that is manufactured into posts once it arrives at the Asian Rim. 

Figure 14 shows total U.S. log exports by species. After steady declines during 

the 1990s, log exports appear to have leveled off and spruce (Picea spp.) and 

western hemlock are rising. In 2003, spruce log exports surpassed Douglas-fir 

log exports. Aggregate log exports declined until 2001, but have remained fairly 

steady since then. 

Lumber exports are improving (fig. 15). Since 2005, western hemlock, 

Douglas-fir, and western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) lumber exports 

have all increased. The strongest gains have been by Douglas-fir lumber, which 

increased almost threefold from approximately 134,000 cubic meters in 2005 to 

381,000 cubic meters in 2008. 
16

Research note pnw-rn-564

Figure 14—Total log exports from the United States by species (USITC 2009); e = estimate.

Figure 15—Total lumber exports from the United States by species (USITC 2009); e = estimate.

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

U.S. lumber exports (thousand cubic meters)

Sitka spruce

Western redcedar

Western hemlock

Douglas-fir

Alaska yellow-cedar

Year

19971998

1999

20002001200220032004200520062007

2008e

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

U.S. log exports (million cubic meters)

Total

Spruce

Western redcedar

Western hemlock

Douglas-fir

Year

1995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

2008e
17

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

The following section will analyze Asian trade patterns for the following 

softwood lumber species: Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.), western 

hemlock, Alaska yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (D. Don) Spach), 

Douglas-fir, and western redcedar. These species are analyzed because they are 

the major species produced in southeast Alaska. Note that when examining the 

volumes, each species represents a different price. As table 1 shows, western 

redcedar, Alaska yellow-cedar, and Sitka spruce are all relatively high-priced 

species. These prices reflect the Japanese high demand for the attributes of Sitka 

spruce and Alaska yellow-cedar. In contrast, western hemlock and Douglas-fir 

do not command as high a price relative to the other species in the table. These 

prices need to be considered when examining the volume figures in the next 

section because, for example, even though Alaska yellow-cedar and western 

redcedar export volumes are relatively low, their values are relatively high. The 

figures in the following section display the data in cubic meters, and appendix A 

provides tables of this export data in board feet. 

Table 1—Japan lumber prices

Species Description Price per cubic meter

Japanese yen (dollars)

Western hemlock 105 mm square 4 meter 38,000 (422)

Douglas-fir 105 mm square S4S 4 meter 41,000 (456)

Sitka spruce Select merchantable 56,000 (622)

Sitka spruce 8-3.4 in square, clear 205,000 (2,278)

Alaska yellow-cedar 5 by 5 in and wider BC, 85 percent clear 170,000 (1,889)

Alaska yellow-cedar 5 in square, sill 62,000 (689)

Western redcedar 6 by 6 in and wider, No. 2 clear 190,000 (2,111)

Exchange rate used: 1 U.S. dollar = 90 Japanese yen.

S4S = surfaced four sides.

BC = British Columbia.

Source: Japan Lumber Reports 2009.

Sitka Spruce 

Traditionally, the major market in Asia for spruce was in Japan’s residential construction market. Japanese home buyers love the white color of Sitka spruce, and 

it is very popular for interior applications such as shoji screen doors, door and 

window trim, and ceiling paneling. The clear grades used for interior applications 

are the most profitable. The lower non-clear grades are used for roof rafters (taruki), 

nailing battens, and crating materials. 

There is no specific category for Sitka spruce logs in the harmonized code 

system used to track export statistics, and so general spruce log export data were 

collected. Between 1996 and 2004, spruce log export volumes from the United 
18

Research note pnw-rn-564

States to Japan declined (fig. 16). In contrast, between 1998 and 2006, spruce log 

export volumes from the United States to South Korea steadily increased. Figure 

16 shows a fairly large increase in log exports to Canada since 1995. The authors 

believe that a large portion of the exports to Canada are re-exported from Canada 

to Asia either as logs or finished products.

Figure 16—United States spruce (Picea spp.) log exports to Asian countries. Note: Spruce includes 

Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.), black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns 

& Poggenb.), white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii 

Parry ex Engelm.), and other spruce (USITC 2009); e = estimate.

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

Spruce log exports

(thousand cubic meters)

Year

1995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

2008e

Total

Japan

South Korea

China

Canada

There is a specific harmonized code for Sitka spruce lumber, allowing export 

data for this category to be analyzed. The volume of Sitka spruce lumber exported 

from the United States to East Asian countries has declined sharply since around 

2000 (fig. 17). The milling of logs has generally shifted from North America to 

Asian mills. Figure 17 shows that Sitka spruce lumber from the United States and 

Canada has declined a lot, but Sitka spruce lumber from East Asian regions has 

been steady. Figure 18 shows exports from East Asian countries to Japan. Lumber 

exports from China and South Korea to Japan have been fairly strong. China and 

South Korea are importing spruce logs from North America, milling the logs into 

lumber, and then exporting a large percentage of this lumber to Japan. South Korea 

also exports a fairly large quantity of spruce lumber to China and Japan (fig. 19). 
19

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

Figure 17—Japan imports of Sitka spruce lumber by region. Note: East Asia includes only China, 

Taiwan, and South Korea (Japan Customs Bureau 2009); e = estimate.

Figure 18—Japan imports of Sitka spruce lumber from South Korea, China, and Taiwan (Japan 

Customs Bureau 2009); e = estimate.

Year

1988

1990

19921994199619982000200220042006

2008e

Sitka spruce lumber to Japan

(thousand cubic meters)

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

From China

From South Korea

From Taiwan

Year

1988

1990

199219941996

19982000200220042006

2008e

From United States

From Canada

From East Asia

Sitka spruce lumber to Japan

(thousand cubic meters)

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0
20

Research note pnw-rn-564

Western Hemlock

In the past, the primary use for western hemlock in Japan was for posts (hashira) 

used in Japan’s traditional post and beam construction. However, during the 1990s, 

European laminated posts produced from European whitewood (mainly Picea abies

(L.) Karst.) gained significant market share, and western hemlock lumber exports to 

Japan declined dramatically. Another factor leading to western hemlock’s reduced 

market share is the Japanese government’s incentive programs to use domestic 

species. Many of Japan’s prefectures offer tax and other incentives if builders use 

domestic species such as sugi (Japanese cedar or Cryptomeria japonica (L. f.) D. 

Don) in their construction projects. 

One recent movement is to promote the use of domestic wood as being “environmentally friendly.” Japan has introduced a green building certification program 

similar to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Japan’s green building certification program is 

called the Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency (CASBEE), and its primary purpose is to reduce the environmental footprint 

of houses. This is a voluntary program that is still in its infancy and covers areas 

such as lighting, air quality, building materials, water use, and building emissions. 

One aspect of this certification program that could have a negative impact on 

softwood lumber exports is that the program awards extra certification points for 

projects that use domestic wood rather than imported wood. The rationale behind 

this proposal is to reduce “wood miles” as measured by the transportation required 

Figure 19—Spruce (Picea spp.) lumber exports from South Korea to China and Japan; e = estimate.

Year

199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

2008e

0

1

2

3

4

5

Lumber exports fro

m

S

outh K

orea

(million cubic meters)

To Japan

To China
21

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

Figure 20—United States western hemlock log exports to Asia (USITC 2009); e = estimate.

to deliver wood to the job site. However, research has shown that imported wood 

has a similar carbon footprint as domestically harvested wood. Although the 

wood miles are longer for imported wood, ocean shipping is more efficient than 

road transport as measured by carbon dioxide per distance traveled (Eastin 2008). 

Another potential result associated with encouraging the consumption of domestic 

wood (which is generally more expensive than imported wood) is that steel and 

concrete construction could become more cost competitive compared with wood 

construction. However, it has been shown that a shift from wood construction 

to steel and concrete construction increases the carbon footprint of structures 

(Edmonds and Lippke 2005). 

Western hemlock log exports from North America to Japan also declined from 

the mid-1990s until 2006. However, they rebounded, and between 2006 and 2008, 

western hemlock log exports to Japan more than doubled (from 253 719 cubic 

meters to an estimated 602 465 cubic meters) (fig. 20). This shows that the Japanese 

lumber market for western hemlock is relying on Japanese mills to manufacture the 

logs into lumber rather than importing the lumber directly. Unlike spruce logs, 

only a small quantity of western hemlock logs go to China and South Korea. 

One important finding was the sharp increase in western hemlock lumber 

exports from the United States to South Korea (fig. 21). Although the total volume 

was relatively small at approximately 45 785 cubic meters in 2008, the increase was 

surprising. This sudden rise in western hemlock export volumes to South Korea 

Year

1,600

1,400

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

Hemlock log exports (thousand cubic meters)

To Japan

To South Korea

To China

1995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

2008e
22

Research note pnw-rn-564

Figure 21—United States western hemlock lumber exports to Asia (USITC 2009); e = estimate.

may be due to the appreciation of the New Zealand dollar relative to the U.S. dollar 

in 2006 and 2007 (see fig. 6). This sudden appreciation of the New Zealand dollar 

against the U.S. dollar made western hemlock a relative value compared with New 

Zealand radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) for packaging and crating uses. However, in 2008 the New Zealand dollar weakened against the U.S. dollar, so this trend 

could be reversed. 

Canada exports a large quantity of western hemlock; thus, Canada export data 

are included as well as U.S. export data in figure 22. The volume of hemlock lumber (Tsuga spp.) exported from the United States and Canada to Japan has declined 

since the early 1990s (fig. 22). Figure 23 shows exports from select East Asian 

countries to Japan. Hemlock lumber exports from South Korea to Japan declined, 

whereas exports from China increased until 2003 and then declined slightly.

Year

210

200

190

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Western hemlock lumber exports

(thousand cubic meters)

19971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

2008e

To Japan

To China

To South Korea

To Taiwan

201000 m3 201 000 m (Japan ) 3 (Japan)
23

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

Figure 22—Japan imports of hemlock (Tsuga spp.) lumber by region (Japan Customs Bureau 2009); 

e = estimate.

Figure 23—Japan imports of hemlock (Tsuga spp.) lumber from Asian countries (Japan Customs 

Bureau 2009); e = estimate. Hemlock lumber to Japan (thousand cubic meters)

100

80

60

40

20

0

Year

1988

1990

19921994199619982000200220042006

2008e

From South Korea

From China

Year

1988

1990

19921994199619982000200220042006

2008e

Hemlock lumber to Japan

(thousand cubic meters)

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

From United States

From Canada

From East Asia
24

Research note pnw-rn-564

Figure 24—United States Alaska yellow-cedar log exports to East Asia (Japan Customs Bureau 

2009, Warren 2008), e = estimate.

Year

199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

100

80

60

40

20

0

Alaska yellow-cedar log exports

(thousand cubic meters)

To Japan

To Taiwan

To China (e)

Alaska Yellow-Cedar

Due to their natural decay-resistant properties, the primary use for Alaska yellowcedar in Japan is for sill plates (dodai), which sit on top of the foundations of 

houses. Alaska yellow-cedar is also used for lamstock. As with other species, 

Alaska yellow-cedar export volumes have declined sharply. One of the major 

reasons has been the increased adoption of treated lumber such as Russian larch 

(Larix sibirica Ledeb., Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.).

Japan is the leading Asian importer of Alaska yellow-cedar logs, yet U.S. 

export volumes to Japan declined significantly starting in 1999 and remained 

low (fig. 24). In 2008, the total of Alaska yellow-cedar lumber exports from the 

United States to Asia was less than 2000 cubic meters (fig. 25). Taiwan consistently 

imports a small amount of Alaska yellow-cedar from the United States and uses the 

species as a substitute for the Taiwan species Formosan-cypress (Taiwan hinoki or 

Chamaecyparis formosensis Matsum). China imports only a very small volume of 

Alaska yellow-cedar logs.

Canada is Japan’s major supplier of Alaska yellow-cedar lumber. However, 

Canadian Alaska yellow-cedar exports to Japan are also declining rapidly (fig. 26). 

China and Taiwan export some Alaska yellow-cedar lumber to Japan, but these 

volumes are still small, with both countries exporting less than 4000 cubic meters 

in 2008 (fig. 27). 
25

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

Figure 26—Japan imports of Alaska yellow-cedar and other Chamaecyparis lumber by region. 

Note: Taiwan hinoki (Chamaecyparis formosensis) and hinoki (Chamaecyparis obutusa) are 

included (Japan Customs Bureau 2009); e = estimate.

Figure 25—United States Alaska yellow-cedar lumber exports to East Asia (Japan Customs Bureau 

2009, Warren 2008); e = estimate.

Year

1988

1990

1992199419961998

2000

200220042006

2008e

Alaska yellow-cedar and other Chamaecyparis 

spp. lumber to Japan (thousand cubic meters) 300

250

200

150

100

50

0

From United States

From Canada

From East Asia

Year

4

3

2

1

0

Alaska yellow-cedar lumber exports

(thousand cubic meters)

19971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

2008e

To Japan

To China

To South Korea

To Taiwan
26

Research note pnw-rn-564

Figure 27—Japanese Alaska yellow-cedar and other Chamaecyparis lumber imports from Asia. 

Note: Taiwan hinoki (Chamaecyparis formosensis) and hinoki (Chamaecyparis obutusa) are 

included (Japan Customs Bureau 2009); e = estimate. Alaska yellow-cedar and other Chamaecyparis spp. lumber to Japan (thousand cubic meters)

Year

1988

1990

199219941996

1998

2000

200220042006

2008e

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

From China

From South Korea

From Taiwan

Douglas-Fir 

Although Douglas-fir does not generally grow in Alaska, it is included in this 

report because it competes with Sitka spruce and western hemlock in the Asian 

markets. The primary use for Douglas-fir in Japan is solid sawn beams and other 

structural components in post and beam residential construction. Douglas-fir 

logs are exported and milled into solid sawn beams. Unlike production of other 

species, Douglas-fir production in Japan is largely controlled by one company: 

Chugogku Mokuzai, one of Japan’s largest lumber producers. Choguku Mokuzai 

is headquartered in Kure Hiroshima, and employs approximately 1,600 workers. 

The company has nine operation locations, imports logs directly, and produces 

more Douglas-fir solid sawn beams than any other company in Japan. 
27

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

Figure 28—United States Douglas-fir log exports to Asia (USITC 2009); e = estimate. Douglas-fir log exports (million cubic meters)

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

To Japan

To South Korea

To China

Year

1995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

2008e

The second use for Douglas-fir in Japan is lamstock, used to manufacture 

glulam beams. The Japanese glulam beam market has been growing steadily since 

the early 1990s. From 1993 to 2007, total glulam beam usage in Japan climbed 

from 199 300 cubic meters to 1 814 100 cubic meters (Roos et al. 2008a) of which 

65 percent were manufactured in Japan and 35 percent were imported. However, 

even glulam beams that are manufactured in Japan use a majority of imported 

lamstock. In addition to Douglas-fir, European whitewood and Russian red pine 

(Scots pine or Pinus sylvestris L.) are used for glulam production in Japan. 

Even though Douglas-fir log exports from the United States to Japan have 

been declining since the mid-1990s, volumes are still fairly strong. In 2008, U.S. 

suppliers exported about 2 million cubic meters (fig. 28). In contrast to Japan, 

South Korea and China receive only a small number of the Douglas-fir logs 

exported from the United States. Japan’s lumber imports from China, South 

Korea, and Taiwan are also small (fig. 29). One of the most important findings 

regarding Douglas-fir was the upward trend in lumber export volumes from the 

United States to Japan. In 2008, the United States exported close to 200 000 cubic 

meters of Douglas-fir lumber to Japan, and this was about three times the volume 

exported in 2005 (fig. 30).
28

Research note pnw-rn-564

Figure 30—United States Douglas-fir lumber exports to Asian countries (USITC 2009); e = estimate. Douglas-fir lumber exports (thousand cubic meters)

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

To Japan

To South Korea

To China

To Taiwan

19971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

2008e

Year

Figure 29—Japan imports of Douglas-fir lumber from Asian regions (Japan Customs Bureau 2009); 

e = estimate. Douglas-fir lumber to Japan (thousand cubic meters)

Year

19881990

1992199419961998200020022004

2006

2008e

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

From China

From South Korea

From Taiwan
29

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

Figure 31—United States western redcedar log exports to Asian countries (USITC 2009); 

e = estimate. Western redcedar logs (thousand cubic meters) 120

100

80

60

40

20

0

To Japan

To South Korea

To China

To Taiwan

Year

1995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

2008e

Western Redcedar

As in the United States, in Japan, western redcedar is primarily used for decking, 

fencing, garden, exterior furniture, and sauna and bath applications. After declining for the previous decade, U.S. western redcedar log exports to Japan appear to 

have somewhat leveled off, and lumber exports have been increasing (figs. 31 and 

32). One reason for the increase in western redcedar lumber exports to Japan is the 

emergence of large-tract home building (Sasatani et al., n.d.). These builders target 

first-time homebuyers with low-priced homes that often include small yards. This 

has created demand for cedar decking and fencing. 

Other Asian countries are also importing western redcedar logs from the United 

States. Although the combined total for South Korea, Taiwan, and China western 

redcedar log exports is less than 30 000 cubic meters, South Korea and Taiwan 

volumes actually increased in 2008 (see fig. 31). The only country besides Japan to 

import western redcedar lumber is China, and the volumes range widely from year 

to year (see fig. 32). 
30

Research note pnw-rn-564

Conclusions

This paper examined trends in North American and Asian forest products trade. 

The results show that in spite of the recent economic downturn, forest products 

exports to Asia remain fairly strong. The decline in the U.S. dollar relative to other 

currencies has made U.S. forest products an attractive value in Asia. In summary, 

the data showed the following trends in forest products exports to Asia:

• Since 2001, there has been an increase in spruce log exports from the 

United States to Japan, China, and South Korea. 

• Since the late 1980s, there has been a steady decline in Sitka spruce lumber 

exports from North America to Japan. The trade pattern appears to have 

shifted from exporting finished lumber from North America, to exporting 

logs. 

• In contrast to exports from North America, general Sitka spruce lumber 

exports from South Korea to Japan and China have been increasing since 

2001. Sitka spruce lumber from South Korea is manufactured from logs 

imported from, not only the United States, but also Canada and Europe.

Figure 32—United States western redcedar lumber exports to Asian countries (USITC 2009); 

e = estimate. Western redcedar lumber exports (thousand cubic meters)

15

12

9

6

3

0

To Japan

To South Korea

To China

To Taiwan

1997

199819992000200120022003

2004

200520062007

2008e

Year
31

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

• After a steady decline, there has been an increase in western hemlock log 

exports to Japan since 2006. 

• There is an upward trend in western hemlock lumber exports to Japan, 

South Korea, Taiwan, and China. The increase in western hemlock lumber exports to South Korea was especially strong, increasing from almost 

zero in 2006 to approximately 45 000 cubic meters in 2008. The increase 

in South Korean western hemlock use appears to be coming at the expense 

of New Zealand radiata pine. The value of the New Zealand dollar has 

increased against the U.S. dollar, and this has made U.S. western hemlock 

relatively cheaper for packaging and crating uses.

• United States Alaska yellow-cedar log exports to Japan have been in steady 

decline since the mid-1990s. There are almost no Alaska yellow-cedar logs 

being exported to other Asian countries. In addition, there is very little 

Alaska yellow-cedar lumber exported directly from the United States to 

Japan and other Asian countries.

• Douglas-fir log exports from the United States to Japan have been declining since the mid-1990s but appear to have leveled off at around 2 million 

cubic meters annually. Douglas-fir lumber exports from the United States to 

Japan have been increasing since 2005, and in 2008 the quantity was close 

to 200 000 cubic meters. Other Asian countries do not import Douglas-fir 

in significant quantities. 

• The quantities of western redcedar log exports to Asia have been declining since the mid-1990s but have recently leveled off. In 2008, the leading 

markets for western redcedar logs were Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and 

China. Western redcedar lumber exports from the United States to Japan 

have been increasing since 2005, whereas exports to China have been 

extremely volatile. 

For Alaska forest products manufacturers to increase their Asian market share, 

they need to establish a coordinated marketing effort in Japan, South Korea, and 

China. The markets for lumber and other value-added forest products are firmly 

established in Japan and South Korea; thus, the strategy for these two countries 

should focus on market expansion. In contrast, China does not have a strong 

developed market in imported lumber and finished forest products; thus, the China 

marketing campaign should focus on market penetration and development. Appendix B lists several organizations that are available to assist Alaska forest products 

producers interested in exporting to Asia. Developing strong relationships with 
32

Research note pnw-rn-564

these organizations, participating in Asian forest products trade shows, and establishing trade missions to Asia would all raise awareness of Alaska forest products 

in Asia. As the current economic downturn has shown, market diversification into 

global markets is a strong strategy for forest products firms to maintain business in 

difficult times.

English Equivalents

When you know: Multiply by: To find:

Cubic meters, log scale 222.2222 Board feet, logs

Cubic meters, lumber scale 416.6666 Board feet, lumber

Meters 3.28 Feet

Centimeters .394 Inches (in)

Millimeters (mm) . 0394 Inches

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36

Research note pnw-rn-564

Appendix A—Further Export Data

Table 2—Volume of softwood log exports from Anchorage Customs 

District to Japan

Western Sitka Western Other

Year Total hemlock spruce redcedar softwood

1,000 board feet

1991 364,987 137,515 182,066 19,836 25,570

1992 354,398 116,016 174,459 21,936 41,987

1993 379,234 119,343 189,109 25,690 45,092

1994 396,290 116,970 213,207 23,994 42,119

1995 356,928 116,903 189,840 18,880 31,305

1996 383,056 129,788 218,545 13,042 21,681

1997 351,497 114,246 194,755 20,198 22,298

1998 161,369 45,034 97,351 6,402 12,582

1999 257,472 78,738 124,811 8,657 45,266

2000 201,753 69,045 100,628 11,407 20,673

2001 149,923 49,441 81,800 4,359 14,323

2002 108,822 37,511 58,572 4,172 8,567

2003 120,113 37,524 65,319 7,816 9,454

2004 80,611 20,927 50,974 3,090 5,620

2005 88,581 22,778 53,424 3,263 9,116

2006 85,365 14,228 60,723 2,547 7,867

2007 90,815 10,720 69,779 4,673 5,643

2008e 39,055 6,924 25,369 2,095 4,667

Data for 2008e are estimated. 

Source: USITC 2009.

Table 3—Volume of softwood lumber exports from Anchorage 

Customs District to Japan

Western Sitka Western Other

Year Total hemlock spruce redcedar softwood

1,000 board feet

1991 161,649 90,749 66,072 2,863 1,965

1992 127,540 78,222 46,372 575 2,371

1993 143,557 92,075 50,915 — 567

1994 107,166 66,958 39,952 — 256

1995 49,351 28,019 19,672 1,407 253

1996 26,784 14,761 11,934 20 69

1997 30,238 17,364 12,246 — 628

1998 8,105 3,856 3,791 — 458

1999 14,370 1,492 8,388 — 4,490

2000 3,161 — 3,161 — —

2001 3,247 — 3,247 — —

2002 — — — — —

2003 1,217 — 1,217 — —

2004 1,825 — 1,825 — —

2005 2,669 — 2,669 — —

2006 2,166 — 2,166 — —

2007 1,758 — 1,758 — —

— = amount too small to record. 

Source: USITC 2009.
37

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

Table 4—Volume of softwood log exports from Anchorage Customs 

District to China 

Western Sitka Western Other

Year Total hemlock spruce redcedar softwood

1,000 board feet

1991 21,813 1,325 20,489 — —

1992 33,661 2,745 30,917 — —

1993 19,068 1,464 17,605 — —

1994 13,434 4,232 9,202 — —

1995 5,426 — 5,426 — —

1996 3,062 — 3,062 — —

1997 2,256 — 2,256 — —

1998 2,870 1,987 883 — —

1999 2,653 — 2,653 — —

2000 6,324 507 5,817 — —

2001 4,325 1,190 3,135 — —

2002 5,562 129 5,433 — —

2003 4,272 269 2,967 670 366

2004 3,947 944 2,928 — 75

2005 9,519 524 8,927 68 —

2006 19,443 2,481 16,460 383 119

2007 36,497 4,773 31,655 — 69

2008e 55,000 14,000 40,000 300 700

Data for 2008e are estimated. 

— = amount too small to record. 

Source: USITC 2009.
38

Research note pnw-rn-564

Appendix B—Contact Information of Industry and 

Government Associations in Japan

American Softwoods 

(SEC, APA, and SPC)

Japan Office

Director: Tomoko Igarashi

1

st Fl Kowa No. 9 Bldg-Annex

1-6-7 Akasaka, Minato-ku,

Tokyo 107-0052 JAPAN 

Email: info@americansoftwoods.jp

http://www.softwood.org/international_offices.htm

American Forest and Paper Association (AFPA) Japan Office

1

st Fl Kowa No. 9 Bldg-Annex

1-6-7 Akasaka, Minato-ku,

Tokyo 107-0052 JAPAN Representative: Ms. Aiba

Tel: (81)-3-3568-7450

Fax: (81)-3-3568-0720

http://www.afandpa.org/

American Hardwood Export Council

U.S. Embassy 10F, 2-11-5 

Nishi-Temma, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0047

Tel: (81)-6-6315-5101

Fax: (81)-6-6315-5103

Email: info@ahec-japan.org

http://www.ahec.org/

U.S. Commercial Service

U.S. Embassy Tokyo 

1-10-5 Akasaka, 

Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420

Tel: (81)-3-3224-5060 

Fax: (81)-3-3589-4235

Email: Tokyo.Office.Box@mail.doc.gov

http://www.buyusa.gov/japan/en/
39

Recent Trends in the Asian Forest Products Trade and Their Impact on Alaska

Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

(Tokyo Headquarter)

Ark Mori Building, 6F 12-32, Akasaka 1-chome, 

Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 107-6006

Tel: (81)-3-3583-2850

Fax: (81)-3-3589-1560

http://www.jetro.go.jp/

(San Francisco Office)

235 Pine Street, Suite 1700

San Francisco, CA 94104

Tel: 415-392-1333

Fax: 415-788-6927

Japan Lumber Journal

25 Sankyo Bldg. No. 523

1-48-10, Higashi Ikebukuro,

Toshima-ku, Tokyo Japan 170-0013

Tel: (81)-3-5950-2251

Fax: (81)-3-5950-2271

Email: njlj@scan-net-ne.jp

http://www.jlj.gr.jp/

Japan Laminated Wood Association

Takamine Dai-2 Bldg. 2-22-4 Nishi-Shinbashi

Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 105-0003

Tel: (81)-3-3434-6527

Fax: (81)-3-3434-6547

Pacific Northwest Research Station

Web site http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/

Telephone (503) 808-2592

Publication requests (503) 808-2138

FAX (503) 808-2130

E-mail pnw_pnwpubs@fs.fed.us

Mailing address Publications Distribution

Pacific Northwest Research Station

P.O. Box 3890

Portland, OR 97208-3890
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Pacific Northwest Research Station

333 SW First Avenue

P.O. Box 3890

Portland, OR 97208-3890

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use, $300