Revised Data on U.S. Hardwood Lumber Export Volumes to Europe, 1981 to 1990
Abstract During the past decade, poor documentation and computer software containing outdated price parameters used to screen and "correct" data taken from U.S. export declarations resulted in significant overestimation of official U.S. hardwood lumber export volumes. In the year prior to their correction, U.S. hardwood lumber exports to Europe were about half the officially reported volume. Although official statistics indicated red oak was the most important species traded, the new data indicate that, in fact, white oak exports in 1988 were actually three times red oak exports. To provide a check on the official statistics and to revise previous export volume data, new estimates were developed using information taken directly from ship manifests. Not only have the ship manifest data provided a more accurate assessment of U.S./European trade, but they have provided new insights into the species composition and geographic source of U.S. exports as well. This paper uses the revised data to focus on three aspects of U.S./European trade--trade trends over the decade, species composition of U.S. hardwood lumber exports, and the origin of U.S. exports. North. J. Appl. For. 8(4):156-160.