Who Buys Idahos Forest Products?
Most of lumber, paper and other forest products manufactured in Idaho are consumed in other states. In fact, only 13% of Idahos forest-product output remains in Idaho. The north central states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota,and Wisconsin) purchased 24% of Idaho’s 1990 lumber production! Only 2% of Idaho’s wood-products production is shopped overseas. It is important to not that these are processed goods, not raw logs. Federal law prohibits the export of raw logs that have come from national forest land, and Idaho laws have virtually eliminated the export of logs harvested on state lands. The following table details, by category, the destination of Idaho’s forest products. Destination of Primary Wood Products In Percent by Region, 1990 Product & Percent of Sales REGION LUMBER PLYWOOD & OSB CEDAR PRODUCTS HOUSE LOGS POSTS, POLES & PILINGS Idaho 13% 9% 24% 29% 57% Far West 17% 25% 10% 26% 74% Rockies 13% 12% 10% 16% 27% N. Central 2
