OREANDA-NEWS. December 18, 2013. To the end of October 2013, the value of British Columbia's (B.C.) softwood lumber exports to China reached USD 1.17 billion - exceeding the previous record set in 2011 when softwood lumber exports to China totalled USD 1.1 billion.

B.C.'s October shipments of lumber to China also broke new records for monthly volume (865,000 cubic metres) and value (USD 145.5 million), as Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations of B.C. said in the press release received by Lesprom Network.

The value of lumber exports to Japan and the U.S. to the end of October also have surpassed recent years' totals. Softwood lumber exports to the U.S. are at USD 2.13 billion (compared to USD 2 billion for all of 2012), and to Japan at USD 703 million (compared to USD 674 million for all of 2012). The U.S., China and Japan are B.C.'s top three markets for softwood lumber.

The increase in value reflects both higher shipment volumes to these markets in 2013 as well as increased lumber prices.

Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson, said: "It's encouraging to see the value of lumber exports to our top three markets have significantly increased over recent years. I'm especially thrilled that we've again broken new records in China - it's further evidence that all our hard work in that market is paying off."

"The increased demand for B.C.'s softwood lumber products translates to job security in B.C.'s mills and B.C.'s woods."