A slowdown in the Chinese economy impacted the construction sector in early 2014 resulting in a decline in lumber import volumes by 16% in the 1Q/14 as compared with the previous quarter. Sources: Scoop, Wood Resources International
The biggest drop was in Canadian lumber shipments, which fell to their lowest levels in two years, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ).
The reduced activities in the building sector during the northern winter months also impacted log import volumes to China, but it was more of a break in the upward trend rather than a decline, with the 1Q/14 imports being about the same as in the 4Q/13.
Later the economy picked up steam and the GDP rose by 2.0% in the 2Q, up from 1.4% in the 1Q/14.
