China log import volumes and prices up

Log imports up 8% in the first half of year - China’s log imports in the first half of 2017 totalled 25.89 million cubic metres valued at US$4.535 billion, a year on year increase of 8.3% in volume and 14% in value. The average price for imported logs was US$175 per cubic metre, a year on year increase of 6%.

Of total log imports, softwood log imports rose 8.6% to 17.51 million cubic metres, accounting for 68% of the national total. The average price for imported softwood logs was US$130 per cubic metre, up 9% on the same period of 2016.

Hardwood log imports grew 7.6% to 8.38 million cubic metres (32% of the national total log imports). The average price for imported hardwood logs in the first half of 2017 was US$269 per cubic metre, up 3% on the same period of 2016. Of total hardwood log imports, tropical log imports were 4.43 million cubic metres valued at US$1.278 billion, up 7% in volume but down 2% in value on the same period of 2016.





New Zealand and Russia main sources of logs - New Zealand was the main log supplier to China in the first half of 2017 accounting for 24% of total log imports.

Imports from New Zealand totalled 6.2 million cubic metres in the first half of 2017, a year on year increase of 10%.

The second ranked supplier of logs was Russia at 5.87 million cubic metres, accounting for about 23% of the national total. In the first half of 2017 a year on year decrease of 1% was recorded for log imports from Russia.

Average prices for imported logs from New Zealand rose 10%, average prices for imported logs from Russia grew 7% in the first half of 2017.

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