Lumber exports to China grow

British Columbia's lumber exports to China grew at a record pace in 2009.

Lumber exports to China hit 1.63 million board feet in 2009, more than twice the volume shipped in 2008. Those exports generated $327 million in revenues, a 70-per-cent increase over 2008.

The U.S. market is still this province's primary customer, Americans bought 7.48 billion board feet of lumber valued at $1.54 billion in 2009.

Forests minister Pat Bell said in a news release that he expects shipments to China to reach four billion board feet by the end of 2011.

Read more:

China lumber sales set new record (The Vancouver Sun)

China's growing appetite for quality B.C. wood (The Vancouver Sun)