The volume of tropical hardwood lumber imported into the United States from Brazil dropped 24.2% in the first half of 2020. In 2019, the U.S. imported 31,092 cubic meters in 1H versus just 23,564m3 in 1H 2020 (U.S. Census Bureau Trade Data).

Imports of Ipe, which accounted for 54.7% of all U.S. tropical hardwood lumber (product) imports from Brazil in 2019 (m3), decreased 21.4% in 1H 2020. In 2019, the U.S. imported 19,787 cubic meters in 1H versus 15,541m3 in 1H 2020.

Jatobá, which accounted for 28.0% of all U.S. tropical hardwood lumber imports from Brazil in 2019 (m3), decreased 14.5% in 1H 2020. In 2019, the U.S. imported 6,199 cubic meters in 1H versus 5,300m3 in 1H 2020.

Even with a more competitive exchange rate, U.S. imports of Brazilian tropical hardwood lumber were down, by volume. This echoes the value-based data from Brazil that exports of lumber from the Brazilian Amazon were down in the first half of 2020.

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