WASHINGTON: US hardwood plywood imports were down 1% in April, the fourth consecutive month-on-month decline. A total of 211,096 cubic metres were imported in April, worth $122.1 million, ITTO reported. Year-to-date import volumes remain slightly higher (+1%) than in April 2015, but the value of year-todate plywood imports decreased 7% compared to 2015.
Lower plywood imports from China and Indonesia were largely responsible for lower April figures. Imports from China were 101,187 cubic metres in April, down 10% from March while imports from Indonesia fell by 37% month-on- month to 23,380 cubic metres.
Malaysian shipment plunged by over 40% from March to 5,265 cubic metres. Year-to-date plywood imports from Malaysia were down 21%. Plywood imports from Russia, Canada and Ecuador gained in April as did imports from Uruguay (5,413 cubic metres), Guatemala (3,537 cubic metres) and Brazil (2,356 cubic metres).
