WASHINGTON: Estonian exports of rough-sawn and planed softwood lumber decreased by 4% in the third quarter of 2016 to 155,046m³. According to Eurostat, deliveries to EU countries declined by 8% to 106,176m³ and by three percentage points to a proportion of 68% of total exports. In this connection, declines in exports to countries such as Latvia (-18%) and Great Britain (-13%) contrasted with increases in deliveries to the Netherlands (+28%) and also to Germany (+18%). The decreases could in no way be compensated by a 5% increase to 48,888m³ in deliveries to non-EU countries.
Accumulated over the first nine months, a 4% decrease in exports was recorded to 509.101m³. Exports of rough-sawn lumber, which consisted of spruce and pine in virtually equal proportions, declined by 2% to 305,331m³. Planed lumber exports decreased at a slightly more significant rate by 7% to 203,770m³.
