The China Book

An Update on China’s Softwood Log and Lumber Markets

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Understanding evolving market dynamics and emerging trends reshaping China’s softwood log and lumber markets is critical for anyone selling into the Chinese market, as well as all supply-chain stakeholders.

Competitive advantages and challenges in China’s trade and supply chains continue to be in flux — foreign currency exchange rates, ocean freight rates, and shifting domestic costs on the supply side. Meanwhile, Chinese in-market issues abound, including fluctuating prices, a slumping real estate industry, and rising domestic timber supplies.

This report is a must read for companies looking for the latest trends in China’s softwood log and lumber markets.

Stay Ahead of the Curve

This report integrates FEA’s extensive coverage in the region, combining on-the-ground research with FEA’s extensive market expertise to give you a nuanced look at softwood markets amid rising uncertainty. Our deep dive is divided into three key sections:

1. An overview of lumber and timber supply in China and the resulting outlook for future trade.
2. Softwood lumber consumption by end-use segment, including detailed descriptions of species-specific applications and the surrounding markets.
3. Russian timber supply and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Key Coverage

• China intends to create the largest forest plantations in the world. The report explains this strategy, the resulting impact on domestic fiber supply, and the consequences for foreign trade.
• Amid the market volatility of the past three years, end uses of softwood logs and lumber are diverse and fluid. We provide on-the-ground market intelligence to help you understand end-use applications and the associated specifications required, as well as changes in these consumption patterns over time.
• Emerging trends that will impact China’s consumption, product preferences, and pricing in the coming years. The report synthesizes these factors and their role in shaping foreign trade.
• An informed view on Russia’s ability to supply China considering its invasion of Ukraine. Trade has increased, but supply chain developments have also evolved significantly. How has competitiveness changed?

Learn More

• What’s Included?
  • 50 pages of concise analysis
  • Integrated graphics: 19 graphs, 9 tables, 10 maps, and product visuals
  • Special access to the June issue of FEA’s China Bulletin, which examines the growing importance of Belarusian softwood lumber exports to China
  • Access to Jane Guo and Mark Smith
• What Questions Are Answered?
  • What drove the rising supplies of domestic timber in the past three years?
  • What Chinese domestic timber volumes will potentially be available in the future?
  • Where are the key softwood timber harvest regions in China?
  • How is China planning to expand its forests through the National Timber Reserve Forest buildup?
  • What are the major Chinese end-user segments that consume softwood lumber? What characterizes each of these end-user segments?
  • What imported log and lumber species are used in each of these end user sub-segments, including typical dimensions? What are some of the competitive advantages for the various species by end-user segment?
  • What are the consumption outlooks for each of these end-user segments that will drive future import log and lumber volumes?
  • How could further processing of Chinese domestic timber species into lumber impact imported log and/or lumber volumes?
  • How has the Russia-Ukraine conflict impacted wood supply into China, both in terms of volumes and new supply routes?
  • How has Russian trade policy and Chinese investment impacted supply of green lumber versus value-added kiln-dried lumber? Who is participating in these shifts?
  • How are other factors such as RMB currency payments and the relocation of distribution centers away from border cities impacting Russia-China wood trade?
• Who Should Buy This Report?
  • Forest owners, forest managers, and log sellers with an interest in exporting softwood logs to China
  • Harvesting companies, trucking companies, shipping companies, and other logistics businesses supporting the Chinese softwood log and/or lumber export market
  • Sawmill owners with an interest in exporting softwood lumber to China
  • Ports that have some level of dependence on volumes of softwood logs and/or lumber shipments
  • Softwood log and lumber traders
  • Economic development agencies or other key governments in regions that have a significant dependence of the Chinese softwood log and/or lumber market
  • Funding agencies with debt/equity investments in businesses suppling softwood log and/or lumber to China, including banks and equity funds
  • The investment community that may be looking at new log infrastructure or sawmill investments that have a significant dependence of the Chinese softwood log and/or lumber market