Shanghai: After a decline in importation of logs and lumber into China in 2012 and early 2013, the country came back roaring in the second quarter with the import value increasing by more than 30 % year-over-year. The total value of imported softwood logs and lumber was over $2.2bn in the second quarter, an increase by almost $600m from the previous quarter.
Increased investments in the housing sector resulted in record imports of logs and lumber to China in the second quarter, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Lumber importation has grown faster than that of logs, with Russia and Canada being the major lumber suppliers in recent years. New Zealand has become the major supplier of logs, overtaking Russia, who has long dominated this market.
In June of this year, European shipments accounted for over eight percent of the total lumber imports to China. It can be expected that more containers of lumber will find their way from Europe to China in the coming years.
The Chinese log import market, which once was completely dominated by Russia, has evolved the past four years to a more diversified group of supplying countries, as reported in the Wood Resource Quarterly. New Zealand has become the largest softwood log supplier to China, Russia’s presence has diminished, and the US and Canada currently supply 25 % of all logs imported to China. Russia’s log exports to China are likely to continue to decline, but there will likely be opportunities for Russian sawmills to increase their shipments in the future. [08/10/13]
