More than half of Canada’s total softwood production in 2012 was in British Columbia, according to Statistics Canada data released November 12.
B.C. produced 29.1 million cubic metres of softwood last year, representing 53.5% of the country’s production (54.5 million cubic metres), followed by Quebec (20.1%) and Alberta (15.0%).
The survey found that 83.1%, or 24.2 million cubic metres, of B.C.’s softwood production was spruce, pine and fir. When spruce, pine and fir are excluded, 90.1% of Canada’s softwood was produced in B.C.
The province did not produce any hardwood.
Sawmill sales in B.C. represented 9.7% of 2012’s total manufacturing sales – well above Canada’s national average of 1.3% – followed by New Brunswick (2.5%) and Alberta (1.7%).
Canada-wide, 2012’s lumber production was still not at 2004’s high of 84.8 million cubic metres – 31.4% higher than 2012’s production of 54.5 million cubic metres (which is up 5.0% from 2011.
For the purpose of the survey, Statistics Canada included Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut in B.C.’s numbers.
