German softwood lumber exports dropped by 11% year-over-year to 1.183 million m³ in the first quarter of 2012, according to the Federal Statistical Office. This decline was solely due to a sharp fall by 213,775m³ or 19% to 903,618 m³ in deliveries to other European countries, which could not be offset by a 23% increase to 279,371 m³ in exports to non-European countries. Against this background, European recipients‘ share in total exports dropped to 76 %, while non-European buyers accounted for 24 %.