SECTION OF FOREIGN MARKETS. 879 



TRADE IN FORESTRY PRODUCTS. 



The more active interest recently aroused in the question of for- 

 estrj^ in the United States has created a larger demand for statistical 

 information regarding our commerce in forestry products. To meet 

 this demand the office devoted considerable time during the year to 

 the preparation of statistics on the subject. The publications hith- 

 erto issued b}' the office with reference to our agricultural trade have 

 not included products of the forest. In view of the inquiries received, 

 however, it will hereafter be the plan of the office to publish also 

 from time to time reports on this branch of our foreign trade. 



EXPORTS OF FOREST PRODUCTS. 



During the past fiscal year the United States exported nearly 

 $50,000,000 worth of forest products. Lumber in its various forms, 

 not including heavy timber, comprised the principal item, the ship- 

 ments under this head having a value of about 126,000,000. The 

 exports of heavy timber, sawed, hewn, or in logs, were valued at 

 about $10,000,000. Wood pulp and the minor products of the forest 

 together formed an item of about $13,000,000. 



Europe furnishes the principal foreign markets for American lum- 

 ber. The United Kingdom is decidedly the largest purchaser, but 

 important sales are also made each year to France and to Germany. 

 The shipments of lumber, including timber, sent from the United 

 States to the British market in 1902 had a value of fully $10,000,000. 

 Our exports to France during that year, and likew ise our exports to 

 Germany, were valued at over 12,000,000. 



The United States annually supplies large quantities of lumber to 

 the neighboring countries of Canada and Mexico. During the past 

 year Canada made purchases to the value of over $3,000,000 and Mex- 

 ico to the value of over $2,000,000. 



A promising market is being developed on the island of Cuba, where 

 in 1902 consignments worth over $1,000,000 were received from the 

 United States. 



Our lumber is also purchased in considerable quantities by some of 

 the South American countries, and particularly by Argentina, the 

 shipments to the latter destination during the past year having a 

 value of over $1,000,000. 



Africa is another continent with which we are establishing a grow- 

 ing export business in lumber. Our consignments to Africa during 

 1902 were worth nearly $1,000,000. They went chiefly to British 

 South Africa. 



British Australasia has become a considerable purchaser of United 

 States lumber, affording one of the most promising markets for our 

 Pacific coast region. The shipments sent to Australasia during the 

 past year were valued at over $1,000,000. 



Important foreign markets for the great timber districts of the 

 Pacific slope will undoubtedly be developed also in the Orient. 

 American lumber is already being marketed quite extensively^ in that 

 quarter of the world. During the last few years a considerable export 

 business in lumber has been established with the Philippine Islands, 

 where in 1902 shipments valued at $246,000 found a market. It is 

 probable that this trade will be largely extended. 



