Wood exporters in Peru have been rerouting exports to the national market as well as to non-traditional market destinations overseas, as the international economic downturn has negatively affected demand from traditional market destinations for Peruvian exports. Currently the countries importing most of Peru’s wood products are Mexico, China and the US, according to the Peruvian Exporters Association (ADEX). ADEX Forestal Committee President Santiago Echecopar explained that of the USD222 million of 2008 Peruvian exports, three countries accounted for 84% of Peru’s total exports worth USD185.9 million.

According to recent statistics from China Customs, both imports and exports of China’s wood products continued to decline in February 2009 due to the international financial crisis and Chinese spring festival period. The drop in exports and imports has lasted five months, since October 2008. Exports fell dramatically due to sharp decreases in furniture exports. Exports of wood-based panels, wooden flooring and small wooden products also continued to decline. Statistics show the total value of wood products imports and exports fell about 20% to USD3.14 billion, accounting for 2.5% of foreign trade, down 0.38% from January 2009. Of the total, the value of wood products exports declined 26% to USD1.5 billion and the value of wood products imports fell 13% to USD1.6 billion.