By Leo Quigley, AJOTThe log export business on North America’s West Coast continues to keep families gainfully employed. In fact, according to Wood Resource Quarterly, the raw wood garnered the industry over $1.6 billion last year compared to $350 million in 2008. The report also points out that Canadian lumber shipments have gone up seven-fold in the past three years and, if the demand continues, could reach almost four million cubic meters, making that country the predominant supplier of softwood lumber to China. By comparison the U.S. exported an estimated 2.4 million cubic meters to China last year. The report also said: “The value of softwood logs and lumber shipped from North America to China is estimated to reach over $1.6 billion US in 2010, which is up dramatically from just a few years ago. In 2008, total exports were valued at $350 million, while they were only $125 million five years ago.” Of the major log shipping ports on the West Coast, the Port of Olympia is the one that has, perhaps, seen the most significant growth, from no logs a few years ago to 124 million board feet of logs in the 12-month period ended May 31. According to reports, the port experienced a slowdown in shipments after Japan was struck by the tsunami, but business has since returned to previous levels. At the port of Longview log exports for first quarter were strong, nearly doubling the log traffic for the same period last year, with most of these logs destined for China. In a statement, Ken O’Hollaren, Executive Director for the port said: “The Port of Longview recorded 2.3 million tonnes of total cargo handled last year, up 55 percent from 1.4 million ones in 2009. While imports were down, exports soared nearly 70 percent. The dramatic increase in exports can be attributed to a rapid increase in demand for logs and agricultural exports, primarily bound for Asia.” The Port of Longview exported more than 600,000 metric tons of logs in 2010. According to the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station based in Portland a total of 413.1 million board feet of softwood logs and 224.9 million board feet of softwood lumber were exported from Washington, Oregon, northern California, and Alaska in January, February, and March of this year Debra Warren, a research economist with the station, said in the report: “The volume of softwood log exports was up 50.5 percent from 208.5 million board feet in the first quarter of 2010, while the volume of softwood lumber exports was up 53.1 percent from 119.5 million board feet,” Warren also said: “Roughly 104.9 million board feet (25.4 percent) of the first quarter 2011 West Coast log exports went to Japan, 71.5 million board feet (17.3 percent) went to South Korea, and 220.0 million board feet (53.3 percent) went to China. “Log exports from Oregon and Washington totaled 379.5 million board feet, up 50.5 percent from the 2010 first quarter volume of 191.5 million board feet. A total of 9.9 million board feet of logs was exported from northern California, up from .4 million board feet in the first quarter of 2010. Alaska exported a total of 23.7 million board feet in the first 3 months of 2011, compared with 16.6 in the first quarter of 2010. The total value of log shipments for the first 3 months of 2011, she said, was $275.6 million at the ports of exportation, and the average value was $667.19 per thousand board feet. Douglas-fir averaged $770.96 per thousand board feet; hemlock, $569.24; spruce, $314.75; and other softwoods, $769.69. As well, about 100.3 million board feet (44.6 percent) of the West Coast first quarter softwood lumber exports in 2011 went to China, 46.5 million board feet (20.7 percent) went to Canada, 17.2 million board feet (7.7 percent) went to Japan, 9.1 million board feet (4.1 percent) went to Taiwan, 8.1 million board feet (3.6 percent) went to the Philippines, 4.0 million board feet (1.8 percent) went to Indonesia, 3.3 million board feet (1.5 percent) went to Australia, and 3.1 million boa