"From what I understand (and I may not understand all that well), we
sell them the logs, which are then shipping to China. They process it
and return the plywood and come in about 40% under plywood produced
only 3000 miles away--or 500."

I used to watch HUGE Chinese Japanese and Russian freighters dock at
Morehead City NC that were essentially floating production plants. The
largest building structure near the docks supplies either wood (sawdust
or chips usually) or phosphorus (nearby mine) to these huge freighters.
I was told that they go offshore into international waters (11 miles
out if I remember) and process MDF or whatever, dump the chemicals in
the ocean, then return to sell the goods.

Neat,
H