Timber industry research & analytics China: booming roundwood supplies from the Czech Republic and Germany in 2019
China’s log imports in 2019 totalled 60.57 million m3 valued at US$9.434 billion (CIF), a year on year increase of just 1% in volume but there was a decline in the value of imports by 14%. The average price for imported logs was US$156 (CIF) per m3. Of total log imports, 2019 softwood log imports rose 9% to 45.26 million m3, accounting for 75% of the national total, 5% up on 2018. The average price for imported softwood logs was US$125 (CIF) per m3, down 10% on levels in 2018. China’s log imports from the Czech Rep. and Germany in 2019 soared to 4.24 million m3 and 2.30 million m3 respectively. New Zealand was the main log supplier to China in 2019 accounting for 29% of total log imports. Imports from New Zealand totalled 17.74 million m3 in 2019, a year on year increase of 2%. Average CIF prices for imported logs from New Zealand fell 9% to US$128 per m3 and from Russia CIF prices fell 3% to US$120 per m3 in 2019.
Russia has significantly reduced exports by 3.3 million m3 after the introduction of customs regulation by the government (increase in duties and quotas).
