Southern Pulpwood Production, 2015
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United States Department of Agriculture Southern Pulpwood Production, 2015 James A. Gray, James W. Bentley, Jason A. Cooper, and David J. Wall Forest Service Southern e-Resource Bulletin Research Station SRS–221 In this report: Page Southern Pulpwood Production by— Appendix 7 • Roundwood and plant residues 9–11 • Species group 9–11 • Territory 9 • Movement 12–13 Pulpmills Using Southern Wood by— • Location 14–15 Note: All tables in this report are available in Microsoft® Excel workbook files. Upon request, these files will be supplied in the format the customer requests. Product Disclaimer The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader information and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or service. July 2018 Southern Research Station 200 W.T. Weaver Blvd. Asheville, NC 28804 www.srs.fs.usda.gov Southern Pulpwood Production, 2015 James A. Gray, Forester U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis, Southern Research Station Knoxville, TN 37919 James W. Bentley, Forester U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis, Southern Research Station Knoxville, TN 37919 Jason A. Cooper, Forester U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis, Southern Research Station Knoxville, TN 37919 and David J. Wall, Forester U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis, Southern Research Station Meadville, MS 39653 INTRODUCTION for 77 percent of the total Southern pulpwood production, while hardwoods accounted for the remaining 23 percent. The Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) unit of the Southern Total Southern pulpwood production was 20 percent lower Research Station annually compiles, analyzes, and reports than the record volume of 75.9 million cords (200.9 million canvass data of pulpmills in the South. This report for green tons) reported in 1997. 2015 presents the findings of a 100-percent canvass of pulpmills that drew roundwood or wood residues from Pulpwood production in the South Central region the 13 Southern States. Of the 79 mills canvassed, 70 (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, responded. For the nine mills that did not respond, previous Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas) decreased 4 percent, canvass data and other sources of information were used from 33.1 million cords to 31.9 million cords. Softwood for the findings reported in this publication. Regional pulpwood production was down 655,000 cords, or 3 percent, conversion factors were used to convert mill data reported in the region, while hardwood production decreased 620,000 in nonstandard units to standard cords. The report gives all cords, or 7 percent. The South Central region’s production production figures in cords and does not include pulpwood was down 22 percent, or 9.4 million cords (24.3 million that is exported out of the country. Tables A.1, A.2, and A.5 green tons) from the peak year of 1997. Between 1997 of the report express equivalent green tons of production. and 2015, the South Central region lost 18 pulpmills. This Unless otherwise indicated, the context for production region accounts for 53 percent of the South’s total pulpwood comparisons (increases, decreases, or stabilizations) production. throughout the report is the change from 2014 to 2015. Production in the Southeast (Florida, Georgia, North Pulpwood Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia) increased slightly, < 1 percent, from 28.7 million cords to 28.8 million cords. Total Southern pulpwood production, which includes Softwood production was down < 1 percent in this region, both roundwood chipped at pulpmills or at independent or 32,000 cords, while hardwood production increased chip mills, and other primary industry mill residues 2 percent, or 126,000 cords. From its peak year of 1997, decreased 2 percent, 1.2 million cords, to 60.6 million the Southeast region’s production declined 14 percent, or cords (161.7 million green tons) (table A.1). This slight 4.6 million cords (11.6 million green tons). Between 1997 decrease comes after a 2-percent decrease between 2013 and and 2015, the Southeast lost seven pulpmills. 2014, showing a slow decline since 2010. At 46.8 million cords, softwood production decreased 686.5 thousand Georgia’s pulpwood production was down 1 percent to cords, or 1 percent. Hardwood production was down 10.1 million cords, leading the South in total pulpwood 3 percent, from 14.4 million cords to 13.9 million cords. production (fig. 1) (table A.2). Alabama’s production Softwood roundwood and residues combined accounted was down 7 percent to 9.6 million cords. Production Georgia Alabama Mississippi South Carolina Louisiana Florida e Softwood North Carolina Hardwood Stat Arkansas Virginia Texas Tennessee Oklahoma Kentucky 0246810 12 Cords (million) Figure 1—Pulpwood production by State and broad species, 2015. in Mississippi increased 2 percent to 7.6 million cords. Six Southern States—Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Pulpwood production in South Carolina increased Louisiana, Oklahoma and South Carolina—showed a < 1 percent to 6.2 million cords. Louisiana’s production decline in roundwood production, with Arkansas, South decreased 9 percent and Florida’s production increased Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana reporting 2 percent to 5.2 and 4.5 million cords, respectively. a decline from < 1 to 8 percent respectively. Oklahoma Collectively, these six States accounted for 43.1 million reported significant decreases of 15 percent. Six Southern cords, or 71 percent, of the South’s total 2015 production. States showed small to moderate increases in roundwood production, while Texas showed a significant increase of Roundwood 23 percent. Georgia’s roundwood production decreased 2 percent but led in total roundwood production with Roundwood pulpwood continues to be the primary fiber 8.0 million cords, and was the leading producer of softwood source used in pulp manufacture in the South. In 2015, it at 6.8 million cords. At 7.8 million cords, Alabama ranked accounted for 82 percent of the total Southern pulpwood second in total roundwood production and was the leading production (fig. 2). This represents an increase from producer of hardwood roundwood, at 1.9 million cords. 2014 when roundwood accounted for 80 percent of total Roundwood pulpwood production in Mississippi, South pulpwood production. Between 2003 and 2006, roundwood Carolina, Louisiana and Florida was 6.2, 5.0, 4.2, and comprised between 72 and 74 percent. Overall, from 2014 3.7 million cords, respectively. Combined production in to 2015, the South’s roundwood production decreased by these six States was 35.0 million cords, for 71 percent of the 260,000 cords, or < 1 percent, from 49.7 to 49.5 million South’s roundwood total. cords (table A.3). At 38.1 million cords, softwood accounted for nearly 77 percent of the total roundwood production. Wood Residues Between 2014 and 2015, softwood roundwood production decreased < 1 percent, or 313,000 cords, while hardwood Mills reported two types of receipts: roundwood and wood roundwood production increased by 53,000 cords, or residues. Wood residues consist primarily of mill residue < 1 percent. In comparison to the peak year of 1997, chips, a byproduct of sawmilling and veneer mill operations. softwood roundwood production was up by 4.1 million This publication reports certain residues that technically are cords, or 12 percent, while hardwood roundwood production not wood residues, such as chips produced in the woods or dropped by 8.9 million cords, or 44 percent. generated when material received as roundwood by primary producers is chipped instead of milled. Softwood residues Wood residue production in the South decreased 8 percent 14% to 11.2 million cords, or 27.0 million tons (table A.4). Softwood residue production was down 4 percent to 8.7 million cords and accounted for 78 percent of total wood residues. Hardwood residue production decreased 18 percent Hardwood roundwood to 2.5 million cords. 19% Four Southern States—Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi Softwood and Virginia—showed an increase in wood residue roundwood production ranging between 3 and 15 percent, while nine 63% Hardwood States showed declines—Florida, Kentucky, Alabama, residues Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas 4% and Tennessee—of < 1, -2, -3, -7, -14, -16, -27, -38 and -39 percent, respectively. Georgia led Southern States in 61 million cords the production of wood residues with 2.1 million cords, Figure 2—Softwood and hardwood components of Southern followed by Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, pulpwood production, 2015. Louisiana and North Carolina with 1.8, 1.4, 1.1, 1.0, and 0.9 million cords, respectively. Combined wood residue production in these six States amounted to 8.1 million cords, or 73 percent of the South’s total. 2 County and Parish Production or both; in 2014, this number was 910; in 2013, this number was 914; in 2012, it was 928; in 2011, it was 910; in 2010, it Table A.5 summarizes pulpwood production in the South by was 913; and in 2009, it was 902. source of wood, State, year, and number of mills for 2001 through 2015. Exports of wood residues and pulpwood Figures 3 and 4 depict the intensity of production of production exported outside the United States are not softwood and hardwood roundwood pulpwood in cords per included in these figures because of difficulty determining square mile of timberland. In both figures, counties in the the county of origin for the residues and exports. In 2015, dark shade of purple produced 100 cords per square mile of of the 1,306 total counties in the 13 Southern States, timberland. 913 counties produced softwood or hardwood roundwood Cords per square mile of timberland 0 0–10 10–50 50–100 100+ Figure 3—Softwood roundwood production in the South by county or parish, 2015.