Table 1 — Lumber consumption in XUe United States by species group, and structural panel consumption by 

 panel type, specified years, 1960-90, with projections to 2040 



Year 





Lumber 





Structural panels 





Softwoods 





Hardwoods 



Softwood 

 plywood 



OSB/ 

 waferboard 





Billion board feet 



Billion square feet 

 3/8-inch basis 



1960 



29.6 





8.1 



7.8 



(n) 



1970 



32.0 





7.9 



12.4 



(n) 



1976 



36.6 





8.0 



17.7 



0.2 



1986 



48.0 





8.8 



21.7 



4.2 



1990 



45.9 





10.8 



18.8 



6.2 



2000 



46.9 





11.1 



17.0 



12.0 



2010 



50.5 





11.9 



15.9 



16.4 



2020 



56.0 





12.7 



15.6 



21.2 



2030 



58.6 





13.3 



15.4 



23.9 



2040 



59.9 





14.1 



15.3 



27.0 



(n) = Less than 50 million square feet. 



expected to increase. By 2040, consumption of hardwood roundwood is anticipated to 

 be 1.6 times consumption in 1990. 



Imports of timber products have been rising and have supplied important parts of the 

 Nation's woodpulp, newsprint, and softwood lumber. Net imports provided 6.8 percent 

 of total U.S. timber consumption in 1990. Most imports originate in Canada. The 

 1980's and early 1990's were characterized by several trade disputes with Canada 

 centered on softwood lumber, western red cedar shakes and shingles, and softwood 

 plywood. Similar disagreements characterized this bilateral trade relationship earlier in 

 the 20th century. It is assumed that the current issues will be resolved, and that future 

 imports from Canada will be determined largely by U.S. demand and the extent and 

 competitiveness of Canada's timber resources. Canada's longrun supply potential is 

 considerable, but there is uncertainty as to whether current harvest rates can be 

 maintained because of increasing environmental concerns. 



Exports of timber products have also been going up. The outlook for exports varies by 

 product, however. In total, annual export volumes are projected to increase from 2.4 

 billion cubic feet, roundwood equivalent, in 1990 to 4.7 billion in 2040. 



The volume of imports of logs into the United States has generally been small over 

 the years and, until recently, has not been a major trade or domestic issue. In the 



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