BC's four-year raw log exports hit historic high

VANCOUVER (Scrap Monster): The recent research report released by the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) indicates that B.C exported 6.6 million cubic metres of raw log in 2016, which is just short of the record log export volume recorded in 2013. The province had recorded all-time record high shipment volume of 6.9 million cubic metres in 2013.

The raw log exports by the province during the four year period from 2013 to 2016 were valued at $3 billion, the highest ever during any four-year period in the province’s history. Nearly 26 million cubic metres of raw logs were shipped from B.C over the past four years. The export to Asian countries, mainly China, has soared higher during recent years.

The actual exports in 2016 are significantly less than what the forestry companies had planned to ship out of the province. The B.C forest companies had initially applied to ship nearly 8.1 million cubic metres of logs during the previous year. Almost 47% of the anticipated log exports originated with Coast Forest Products Association (CFPA) member companies. The export applications by CFPA member companies totaled 3.78 million cubic metres in 2016. TimberWest accounted for 2.03 million cubic metres, followed by WFP, Probyn Log Ltd. and Interfor. The log export business on federally regulated lands was dominated by TimberWest and Island Timberlands. The increased domestic purchases led to cut in export volumes, which otherwise could have resulted in significant job losses.

Alarmingly, one out of every three trees cut on the B.C coast was exported in 2016. The volume of raw logs exported from the province during the year would have been enough to frame 134,000 homes. Rough estimates indicate that processing of the logs within the province, instead of being exported, could have generated nearly 3,600 new provincial jobs. Based on the above facts, CCPA recommends ban on log exports from old-growth forests. In addition, the agency also urged the provincial government to impose higher export taxes on second-growth log exports.

Incidentally, several environmental groups including The Ancient Forests Alliance, Sierra Club of British Columbia and the Wilderness Committee have extended support to CCPA’s proposals. Further, these organizations along with some unions representing pulp and paper workers have also demanded for introduction of new policies to promote increased manufacturing activities in the province.

On the other hand, forest sector organizations such as Coast Forest Products Association (CFPA) and Truck Loggers Association (TLA) argue that log exports results in subsidized logging operations, which in turn will benefit local mills. According to Rick Jeffery, president of the Coast Forest Products Association, the increased log exports are simultaneous with increase in total harvest, which in turn has created additional jobs in the province. The provincial government also believes that export of logs is an essential part of the forest industry. Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests noted that overall log exports account for less than seven per cent of the total harvest in B.C. Moreover, logs are first made available to the domestic market before they are put into export market.