Timber 



A large number of price, demand, and supply 

 studies have been made for timber. These stud- 

 ies indicate that an increasing consumption is 

 expected for timber products. The projected 

 increases in population, economic activity, and 

 income indicate longrun-groA^i:h in activity in 

 all of the major timber product markets. The 

 endorsement by the President of the recom- 

 mendations of the Cabinet Committee on Eco- 

 nomic Policy and its Task Force on Softwood 

 Lumber, and Plywood led to a goal for the 

 Forest Service of increasing output of timber 

 from National Forests and from non-federal 

 lands. 



Softwoods species account for 70 percent of 

 the total timber products produced and used in 

 the U.S. The expected increase in demand for 

 softwood timber products was based on esti- 

 mates of expanding uses. Expenditures for non- 

 residential construction are expected to increase 

 from $40.3 bilhon in 1968 to $66.4 bilhon by 

 1980, and to $153.3 bilhon by year 2000. Resi- 

 dential construction is expected to increase from 

 the 1968 level of 1.8 mihion units to 2.8 and 3.5 

 million units in 1980 and 2000, respectively. 

 These construction estimates and the subse- 

 quent demand for softwood vary according to 

 price levels. 



The volume of softwood timber (round wood 

 basis) required to meet the projected demands 

 for softwood plywood, lumber, pulpwood, and 

 miscellaneous products at three different price 

 levels, is as follows: 



400 







Price levels 





ear: 







1968 prices 









plus 1% 





1962-67 





annual 





average 



1968 



increase 





Billion 



Billion 



Billion 





board feet 



hoard feet 



board feet 



1968 



— 



^1.1 



— 



1980 



67.5 



55.0 



49.9 



2000 



94.5 



76.7 



53.9 



Projected total U.S. demand for hardwoods 

 in billion board feet is as follows: 



Year: 



1962 6.4 



1968 7.2 



1980 8.2 



2000 10.2 



Estimates of exports and imports show a net 

 U.S. import of 5 to 10 billion board feet of 

 softwood products per year (fig. 30). 



Hardwoods make up about 30 percent of total 

 U.S. timber consumption. This rate of consump- 

 tion is expected to continue through year 2000. 

 The projected consumption of hardwood timber 

 will increase at a slower rate than that of the 

 softwood timber types. 



^INDICATORS 

 ^fTOp;i^BER 

 ^V^ITCONSUMPTION 



300 



yfvWollS 



'iii&-~ 



> -m 



t) A 



-a 



00 



dwellin 

 *^nits) 



200 



100 



1968 



1980 



2000 



Figure 30. 



48 



