The US imports $25B+ in lumber and wood products annually — structural lumber, hardwoods, plywood, OSB, engineered wood, and flooring. Tightly correlated with housing starts, lumber imports are highly cyclical and sensitive to tariffs. Track who is importing what with CBP manifest data.
| Country | US Market Share | Products Exported |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | ~35% | Softwood lumber (SPF), OSB, plywood panels |
| Brazil | ~12% | Hardwood flooring, tropical hardwood, MDF |
| Chile | ~8% | Radiata pine, wood chips, engineered wood |
| China | ~10% | Plywood, laminated flooring, cabinets, furniture panels |
| Indonesia | ~6% | Tropical hardwood, plywood, veneer |
84 Lumber, Builders FirstSource, US LBM, and thousands of regional lumber dealers import directly to supplement North American supply. Their import volumes track closely with housing starts and permit issuance.
Shaw, Mohawk, Armstrong, and hundreds of specialty flooring importers source hardwood and engineered flooring from Brazil, China, and Southeast Asia. Cabinets and millwork importers are also high-volume.
Plywood, OSB, MDF, and particleboard importers supply both construction and furniture manufacturing. Large-volume container shipments from China (plywood) and Canada (OSB) are common.
Representative records from US CBP public manifest filings
| Shipper | Product | US Consignee | Port | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CANFOR CORPORATION BC | SPRUCE PINE FIR LUMBER | 84 LUMBER COMPANY | Seattle | 185,000 KG |
| ARAUCO CHILE SA | RADIATA PINE PANELS | INTERSTATE BUILDING MATERIALS | Houston | 124,000 KG |
| CHINA NATIONAL BUILDING | PLYWOOD PANELS | US PANEL DISTRIBUTION | Long Beach | 68,400 KG |
| DURATEX MADEIRAS BRAZIL | HARDWOOD FLOORING | SHAW INDUSTRIES GROUP | Savannah | 42,800 KG |
"softwood lumber" or "SPF lumber" imports from Canada, Chile"hardwood flooring" or "engineered wood" from Brazil, China"plywood" imports from China, Indonesia, Russia"MDF" or "particleboard" imports to furniture manufacturers"tropical hardwood" or "teak" from Southeast AsiaWhen housing starts rise, lumber imports spike 4–6 weeks later. Brokers who track manifest data can anticipate these surges, build carrier relationships in advance, and be the first call when importers need capacity.
US softwood lumber countervailing duties on Canadian imports, hardwood tariffs on Chinese plywood, and anti-dumping orders periodically redirect import flows. Each shift creates new freight relationships as importers find new sources.
Long lumber (20+ foot lengths) and wide panels require flatbed, step-deck, or specialized rail transport from port to distribution point. Brokers with specialized equipment networks earn premium rates on these loads.
Most publicly available CBP manifest data focuses on ocean freight. Canadian lumber primarily moves by truck and rail across the land border, which follows different data pathways. Ocean lumber from Chile, Brazil, and Europe is well-covered.
Yes — "hardwood flooring," "engineered flooring," and "laminate flooring" are all searchable in manifest records. Brazil (Jatoba, IPE) and China (engineered oak) are the top ocean origins.
Tariff changes show up in manifest data as shifts in origin countries and shipper names. When a tariff hits Chinese plywood, you can see importers shifting to Vietnamese or Indonesian suppliers within 1–2 quarters.
Yes. Kitchen cabinets, millwork, and wood furniture components are among the most-imported wood product sub-categories. China is the dominant origin for cabinets; manifest data includes many mid-size cabinet importers.
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