Lumber review

Media

Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title
Lumber review
Creator
Tamesis, Florencio
Language
English
Year
1937
Rights
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Fulltext
64 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL June, 1937 LUMBER REVIEW By FLORENCIO TAMESIS Dirtcttr, Burtau »/ Fmitry The following statements show the lumber and timber exports, by countries, and the mill pro­ duction and lumber inventories from the month of March, 1937, as compared with the corre­ sponding month of the previous year. Lumber and timber exports in March registered a decline, which is, however, considered as merely tempo­ rary. During the month under review there were shipped to this market 9,978,840 board feet of lumber and- tim­ ber compared with 11,640,496 board feet for the corre­ sponding period last year, or a decrease of 15%. Prospects for this trade continue to be bright judging from the keen demand for timber con­ cessions by prospective operators who expect to cater to the Japanese market. Consumption of sawn lumber by the above market in March increased considerably, amounting to 498,200 board feet compared with 106,848 board feet and 4,240 board feet for February and January, respectively. Demand in China during the month under review continued comparatively active. There were shipped to this market in March 875,984 of lumber and timber compared with 185,712 board feet for the corresponding month in 1936, or an increase of 371%. Besides rough lumber, usually of a special grade known as the “Quar­ termaster grade”, and round logs, considerable merchantable flooring >s being shipped to the above market. It has been reported, however, that some difficulties arc being met by local producers in connection with shipment of the latter product, arising from strict ruling recently issued by Customs Authorities in China. It is hoped, however, that these difficulties will be straightened out as soon as the method of grading flooring stocks followed by local exporters is better known by the Chinese authorities. Exports of lumber and timber to the United States in March registered an increase of 22% compared with the previous month. The above amount is, however, still considered below nor­ mal. Local producers still found difficulties in securing adequate space for cargoes due to shortage of bottoms, which arose as a result of the Pacific Coast maritime strike. SAIL THE SULU SEAS/ 12-DAY CRUISE NEW M. S. LEGAZPI S. S. KINAU NEW MOTORSHIP (BUILDING) SAILING EVERY THURSDAY TO CEBU — DUMAGUETE — ZAMBOANGA — COTABATO — JOLO EVERETT STEAMSHIP CORP. 223 DASMARINAS — — MANILA Statement Showing Lumber and Timber Exports During the Month of March, 1936 and 1937 Note:—Board Feet should be used. Month Lumber Deliveries from Mills Lumber Inventory Mill Production 1937 1936 1937 1936 1937 1936 March........... .. 21,840,700 19,312,925 38,746,215 34,502,496 20,935,547 19,341,816 For 50 Mills for the month of March Destination 1937 1936 Quantity in Board Feet Customs-De­ clared Value Quantity in Board Feet Customs-De* dared Value Japan............................. .. .Unsawn Timber.... Sawn Lumber......... .... 9,480,640 .... 498,200 P193.646 9,250 11,640,072 424 1*205,332 196 China............................. .. .Unsawn Timber.. .. .... 496,232 10,893 — — Sawn Lumber............ . . . 380,752 19,368 185,712 8,958 Australia....................... .. .Unsawn Timber........ . .. 306,552 11,949 190,376 6,026 Sawn Lumber........... 547,384 26,868 708,080 37,785 Singapore....................... .. .Unsawn Timber.... 37,736 1,619 — — Sawn Lumber........... 25,864 4,080 424 120 United States................ ... Unsawn Timber....... — — 63,600 3,689 Sawn Lumber........... ... 1,183,808 78,761 4,792,048 324,103 British Africa............... ... Unsawn Timber....... — — — — Sawn Lumber........... 310,368 23,228 234,472 13,460 Portuguese Africa........ ... Unsawn Timber....... — — — — Sawn Lumber........... 160,696 12,152 35,192 1,685 Great Britain............... . .. Unsawn Timber....... — — — — Sawn Lumber........... 687,728 61,824 1,021,840 84,384 Hawaii........................... . .. Unsawn Timber....... — . — — — Sawn Lumber........... 69,960 6,010 15,688 2,454 Denmark....................... . . . Unsawn Timber....... — — — — Sawn Lumber........... 6,360 713 15,264 1,145 Norway......................... . .. Unsawn Timber........ — — — — Sawn Lumber........... 17,808 2,368 — — Ireland........................... . . Unsawn Timber........ — — — — Sawn Lumber........... 7,632 923 70,808 6,358 Sweden........................... . . .Unsawn Timber....... — — — — Sawn Lumber........... 22,896 2,674 — — New Zealand................ .. . Unsawn Timber....... — — — — Sawn Lumber........... 83,104 8,648 43.248 3,300 British E. Indies........... .. Unsawn Timber........ — — — — Sawn Lumber........... — — 70,808 15,876 Hongkong..................... . . . Unsawn Timber....... — — — — Sawn Lumber........... — — 424 59 Canada.......................... . . . Unsawn Timber........ — — — — Sawn Lumber........... — — 5,088 951 TOTAL.................. . . . Unsawn Timber....... . . . 10,320,160 1*218,107 11,894,048 1*215,047 Sawn Lumber........... ... 4,002,560 256,867 7,199,520 500,834 GRAND TOTAL. . . . 14,322,720 1*474,974 19,093,568 1*715,881 Lumber and timber shipments to Australia were steady. Total exports to this market in March aggregated 853,936 board feet, 306,552 board feet of which were logs. This was the first log shipment to Australia during the year. As stated in our previous review, some local producers are now booked for large orders for the above market, necessitating regular ship­ ments. Lumber consumption in Great Britain during the iponth under review fell off consider­ ably compared with the previous month, but the amount actually shipped may still be considered normal. The decline was due to an apparently comparatively heavy stocks on hand in the above market, due to the unusually large shipment made in February. The domestic market continued active. Prices for common stocks were comparable to those obtainable in the United States. Mill pro­ duction in March totalled 20,935,547 board feet compared with 19,341,816 board feet for the same month in 1936. Lumber deliveries during the month under review exceeded production by 4%.