Non coniferous roundwood market in Chile

Earlier Report Observations

The non-coniferous roundwood market in Chile contracted from 29.1 million m³ in 2018 to 25.7 million m³ in 2022. This decline was primarily driven by a series of disruptive events. In 2018, sawmills contended with a high supply of fire-damaged logs following the 2017 mega-fires, which hampered production. Subsequent years were marked by social unrest in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, leading to operational restrictions, absenteeism, and reduced economic activity that suppressed demand. A persistent downturn in the construction sector, a major consumer, further weakened roundwood consumption through 2022.

Market volume rebounded to 27.8 million m³ in 2023, an increase of 8% from the previous year. This recovery occurred alongside earlier reports of beneficial conditions for sawmills in late 2020 and 2021, characterized by recovering demand and prices, particularly from remodeling and construction projects. During this period, growing interest in wood prefabrication, driven by technical and environmental advantages, also emerged as a market trend.

Beyond these volume movements, the market landscape was shaped by broader initiatives. Public policies aimed to increase wood use in construction to reach 30% of built surface area. Simultaneously, companies engaged in exporting thermally treated wood and sawn pine, maintaining trade flows to key destinations like the United States and South Korea, though these activities did not majorly influence total domestic market size.

Production non coniferous roundwood in Chile

In kind, 2018-2021, K m³

From 2018 to 2021, Chile maintained the 18th position globally in terms of non-coniferous roundwood production volume.

Top producers of non coniferous roundwood, 2018-2021

World map of production of non coniferous roundwood, 2018-2021

In 2021, Chile produced 27 443 thousand cubic meters of non-coniferous roundwood, marking a moderate year-on-year decline of 4.8%. Over the 2018-2021 period, production decreased by 5.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of -2.0%. The largest increase occurred in 2020, at 0.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Chile in kind, 2018-2021, K m³

Exports non coniferous roundwood from Chile

Exports in kind, m³

The data shows irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Exports reached their lowest point in 2020 and peaked in 2018, with a 7.5-fold difference between these years. In 2021, Chile exported 37 187 cubic meters of non-coniferous roundwood, representing a 301.4% increase compared to 2020. The minimum value was recorded in 2020 at 9 265 cubic meters, while the largest decline occurred in 2019, at 74.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Chile in kind, 2018-2021, m³

Between 2018 and 2021, China effectively monopolized Chile's non-coniferous roundwood exports in volume terms, accounting for 97.3% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Chile in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, K $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during this period. Export values reached their low in 2020 and their high in 2018, with a 4.2-fold variation. In 2021, Chile exported 2 151 thousand US dollars worth of non-coniferous roundwood, constituting a year-on-year rise of 198.3%. The minimum value was recorded in 2020 at 721 thousand US dollars, and the largest decline occurred in 2019, at 61.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Chile in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

From 2018 to 2021, the partner base for exports in value terms was extremely narrow, with China alone responsible for 96.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Chile in value, 2018-2021

Imports non coniferous roundwood to Chile

Imports in kind, m³

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Imports hit their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2020, varying by a factor of 52. In 2021, Chile imported 96 cubic meters of non-coniferous roundwood, representing a modest 7.7% drop compared to 2020. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 2 cubic meters, while the maximum was in 2020 at 104 cubic meters. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 66.7%, and the largest increase was in 2020, at 5 100.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Chile in kind, 2018-2021, m³

Between 2018 and 2021, the United States (51.4% of imports in volume), Colombia (27.9%), and Indonesia (7.7%) together accounted for 87.0% of total imports in volume, serving as the main sources for non-coniferous roundwood to Chile.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Chile in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, K $ US

Imported non-coniferous roundwood volumes in Chile increased for the third consecutive year. In 2021, import volume reached 130 thousand US dollars, representing a 103.6% increase relative to the prior year. Between 2018 and 2021, imports grew by 67 087.9%, equating to an annualized rate of 775.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Chile in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

From 2018 to 2021, Paraguay and the United States played leading roles in imports in value terms, with a combined share of 81.4% of total flows, while the remaining share was distributed among other countries.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Chile in value, 2018-2021