Chinese Custom Officials Report Imported Logs Declined in Volume and Value in Q1

The most recent issue of the International Tropical Timber Organization’s (ITTO) Tropical Timber Market Reports states that according to Chinese Customs Officials, China’s log imports in 2023Q1 totaled 9.27 million cubic meters, valued at $1,606 billion (USD), which is down 7% in volume and 18% in value when compared to 2022Q1. In addition, the average price for imported logs was US $173 (CIF) per cubic meter, down 12% from the same period last year.

Of total log imports, softwood log imports increased by 1% to 6.72 million cubic meters, which accounted for 72% of the national total. However, the average price for imported softwood logs fell 16% to US $146 (CIF) per cubic meter over the same period of 2022.

New Zealand and Germany were the largest and second largest supplier of logs to China in Q1. The proportion of China’s imports from these two suppliers accounted for over 50% of the total log import volume. China’s imports from New Zealand rose 13% to 3.78 million cubic meters but fell 24% to 1.17 million cubic meters from Germany.

China’s imports of Russian logs have fallen sharply due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. China’s log imports from Russia fell 38% to 460,000 cubic meters in Q1.