Swedish sawmills delivered less softwood lumber to European destinations in the first eight months of 2019 (-7%). By contrast, deliveries to Africa (+ 12%, ~ 1.5 million m3) and N. America (+ 29%, ~ 300,000 m3) increased significantly.
In August alone, Swedish softwood lumber exports showed a slight decline. From January to August, a total of 8.3 million cubic meters were exported, 1% less than in the same period of the previous year. In August, the volume of 816,000 cubic meters was 3% less than in August 2018.
| 1.000 m3 | Aug 19 | % Aug 18 | Jan-Aug 19 | % Previous year |
| Europe | 527.1 | -3% | 4955.4 | -7% |
| Africa | 120.2 | -27% | 1515.3 | 12% |
| Middle East | 34.7 | 17% | 311.3 | 4% |
| East Asia | 126.5 | 31% | 1199.0 | 5% |
| N. America | 4.2 | -38% | 296.1 | 29% |
| Oceania | 3.4 | -17% | 28.4 | -55% |
| TOTAL | 816.0 | -3% | 8305.0 | -1% |
Deliveries to the United Kingdom, the main purchaser of Swedish softwood lumber, remained at a stable 1.7 million m3 in the first eight months of 2019, unchanged from the same period of the previous year, despite ongoing Brexit discussions. This corresponds to around 21% of total softwood exports. In places 2 and 3, Egypt and Norway follow with around 900 and around 700 million m3. Exports to Egypt increased by 50% compared to the same period last year.
| 1.000 m3 | Aug 19 | % Aug 18 | Jan-Aug 19 | % Jan-Aug 18 |
| Great Britain | 190.5 | 1% | 1741.7 | 0% |
| Egypt | 72.7 | -41% | 907.2 | 50% |
| Norway | 84.5 | -1% | 701.7 | 10% |
| Netherlands | 58.2 | 3% | 565.9 | -14% |
| Denmark | 60.2 | -3% | 537.4 | -8% |
| China | 57.1 | 106% | 495.6 | 6% |
| Japan | 47.3 | -3% | 474.1 | 1% |
| Germany | 43.3 | -14% | 458.8 | -18% |
| USA | 4.1 | -39% | 291.1 | 31% |
| Morocco | 28.3 | 4% | 260.0 | 4% |
| Algeria | 15.5 | 105% | 241.1 | -35% |
| France | 14.2 | -2% | 208.0 | -12% |
| Saudi Arabia | 21.0 | 4% | 201.3 | 3% |
| Poland | 17.5 | -20% | 173.5 | -17% |
| Belgium | 19.7 | -4% | 170.5 | -19% |
Exports to Germany fell by 18% and reached 460,000 m3 at the end of August. With the exception of the UK and Norway, deliveries to all other European destinations among the 15 largest customers are also declining. In contrast, exports to the USA rose by 31% to 290,000 m3. If exports to China at the end of the first half of the year were 9% down on the previous year, they are 6% higher at the end of August.
Deliveries to Ireland (67,000 m3, +137%) and Yemen (50,000 m3, + 267%) continued to rise noticeably outside major customers.