American ports see unprecedented plywood influx from worldwide sources

Posted on June 17, 2024   |  

Russian plywood imports to US ports fell by 15% over the past year, with over 34,000 m³ arriving in 2024.

Despite this decline, total plywood imports to the US surged to 1,532,800 m³, meeting the nation's housing demand during the pandemic.

Plywood imports increased by over 44% from January to April compared to the previous year, with Vietnam leading the market, followed by Brazil, Indonesia, Canada, and Chile.

Vietnamese plywood imports soared by 148.2% due to US tariffs on Chinese plywood, redirecting import trends.

US housing starts rose by 5.7% in April 2024, with continued growth in single-family homes, apartments, and townhouses.

Despite challenges like high mortgage rates, housing started increasing by 10.7% in February, reaching a 1.52 million annualized rate, signaling a growing trend in construction activities.