22 August 2013: The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) has released its Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 2012, which summarizes market trends and offers data on the production and trade of primary wood products, with a focus on tropical primary wood products in 75 countries.

Key findings on tropical timber production include: increased supply-constraints on tropical log production following a decline during the global economic crisis; continued expansion of value-added wood processing in the African region; and a shift in tropical plywood production from Malaysia and Indonesia towards China. With regard to tropical wood imports, major findings include the strengthening of India and China as dominant tropical log importers, and the diversification of tropical log sources to China. For exports, the review finds a decline in tropical sawnwood exports in 2011 and 2012, and a shift in African log exporters to outside of the European Union.

The review also reports on trends in forest area, forest management, and the economies of ITTO member countries. The review will be made available in French and Spanish in mid-September. [ITTO News Release] [Publication: Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 2012]