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for their scrap paper


products.” In 2018 through October, the


port shipped 110,400 TEUs of wastepaper, which accounted for nearly 18% of Oakland’s total export volume.


Port


data shows that nearly all the recyclable paper went to Asia. The product is used primarily to make packaging for billions of dollars of Asian goods exported to the US. Scrap paper shipments increased


have this year


despite trade pressures that include: a rising US dollar making American products more expensive overseas; the US-China tariff standoff; and China’s new, tougher quality standards for foreign scrap products. China, Oakland’s No. 1 trade


partner, has reduced scrap paper shipments from the port by 37% in 2018. Neighboring Asian countries have picked up the slack. Oakland scrap exports to Taiwan are up 522% in 2018 with shipments to Vietnam up 344%. The port said scrap metal


exports have increased 10% in 2018. It said that shipments of the commodity to China have slumped 43%. That loss has been largely offset by increased shipments to Taiwan, Vietnam and India.


Northwest Seaport Alliance


The Northwest Seaport Alliance, with its Ports of Tacoma and Seattle, plays a big role in that region’s Timber Belt. To accommodate the trade, NWSA offers a robust network of transload warehouse companies in the port area with specialized handling equipment and storage for forest products shipments. Many of these facilities are served by rail and can accommodate shipments via boxcar, etc. Eighteen international


container lines call NWSA facilities in Seattle and Tacoma. Westwood Shipping (formerly owned by Weyerhaeuser) calls at East Sitcum Terminal. “They offer regularly scheduled service to several ports across Japan and are uniquely experienced in serving that marketplace,” says NWSA. Forest products handled


Issue 1 2019 - FBJNA


Lumber being moved at Savannah’s Ocean Terminal. (GPA photo.)


at the NWSA gateway are shipped via both bulk and container. Bulk log shipments are handled at the West Hylebos Log Terminal in South Harbor where logs are also transported in containers. “Aside from logs, container


is the primary mode of transport for wood products,” NWSA comments Last year, 153,090 TEUs forest products and


of


exported of


forest products were


55,523 TEUs were


imported through NWSA’s ports of Seattle and Tacoma. China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Australia are the top destinations (88%) for which our exported forest products are


bound. China, Chile,


New Zealand, Indonesia and Germany are the top destinations (83%) from which NWSA imported forest products originate. The top exports are logs,


logs, lumber, wood (42%); paper (38%); newspaper, and wood (floors, shingles, and woodenware). Top imports are wood (floors, shingles, woodenware – 30%); logs, lumber, wood (20%); corestock, doorskin, plywood, veneer


(20%); boards, and


pulp. “China dominates our


trade relationship for non- container forest products (99%),” NWSA says “In total, we exported 233,718 metric tons last year. Those products were logs, lumber and wood, which comprise 99% of our non-container forest product exports.”


Port of Longview


The Port of Longview only exports timber from the Pacific Northwest. Its primary markets include Japan, China and Korea. Last year Japan imported more


raw logs and timber than China at 229.053 metric tons versus 211,329 metric tons. In 2017, China imported 352,910 metric tons; Japan, 193,696. These raw logs are typically used in the construction industry. The Port of Longview also exports Pacific Northwest logs, which are hand picked and used for utility poles in Ireland. All are loaded directly to vessel. The port offers short term pre-


staging of logs, which allows for a smoother loading experience. By having some volume ready on dock, the incoming trucks can keep up with the loading operation. The port maintains a steady utility department and sweepers, which allow the port to clean docks between shiſts, which allows operations to remain in compliance with environmental permits in Washington State. The port has two


berths capable of handling logs, which allow multiple vessels to load simultaneously. It owns two Liebherr mobile cranes to assist with loading over-dimensional cargo.


The Port of Longview


offers several advantages that help facilitate these shipments.


For one, it is located at river mile 66 on the 43’ deep-draſt Columbia River. Port of Longview’s geographical advantage and investment in infrastructure keeps cargo moving through Southwest Washington. Another is advantages are the port’s improvements to internal dedicated direct rail known as the Industrial Rail Corridor. When the Industrial Rail Corridor Expansion project is complete, the Port of Longview will be capable of handling unit trains up to 8,500 feet in length with additional sidings for holding, repair, and storage – meaning even more cargo opportunity for


both the Canadian and Chinese trade conversations happening at the Federal level.


Portland and Coos Bay


Oregon plays a big role in the forest products trade. Southwestern Oregon has a rich history of harvesting, processing, and exporting timber products. The Port of Portland is


currently handling some forest products via container on its BNSF Railway Intermodal service that connects to the Northwest Seaport Alliance. Portland has a strong history of moving forest products,


15


that 2.6 million short tons of waterborne lumber, logs, chips, and


pulp originated


in Oregon in 2017. Over half of those products were handled by the Port of Coos Bay. According to that port’s website, approximately $220 million in wood products travel along the port owned Coos Bay Rail Line, destined for markets throughout the US and Canada. The port keeps a close eye


on the trends and indicators in the volatile timber industry such as housing starts. For example, housing starts dropped 5.3% nationwide in September last year due


The Port of Longview only exports timber from the Pacific Northwest. Its primary markets include Japan, China and Korea. (Port of Longview photo.)


tenants and clients. Numerous lines call upon the


Port of Longview, with K-Line and NYK-Line handling many of its log exports. Of course, trade negotiations


are always a threat and this market is particularly susceptible, being affected by


given its location in the heart of the Northwest. Terminal 6, Portland’s multi-use terminal, is capable of handling containers and oversized cargo, including breakbulk forest products suitable for outside storage. The Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center reports


to Hurricanes Florence and Michael. “However, seasonally- adjusted total housing starts in the west rose by 6.6% while home sale prices continue to increase,” the website reported. “The housing market is soſtening, reaching a neutral point. This decline in house building indicates a need for the timber industry to look for new growth opportunities such as bioenergy.” Looking towards the future,


Coos Bay officials project that opportunity in bioenergy such as biofuel woodchips will continue to grow over the next five years. “Currently China is poised to be the largest consumer of renewable energy by 2023, which will drive exports of bioenergy products,” they say. “Timber is a renewable energy and can be used to fill this demand through energy woodchips. There are a couple terminals


within the


The port offers short term pre-staging of logs, which allows for a smoother loading experience. (Port of Longview photo.)


this increasing demand.” Coos


Bay harbor who are already exporting biofuel


to support


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