Substantial growth recorded in China’s sawn timber imports

20 April 2017


Data from China’s customs authorities shows substantial growth in sawn timber imports in 2016, according to the International Tropical Timber Organisation’s latest market report.

China’s 2016 sawn timber imports totalled 32.15 million m3, valued at US$8.14bn – a year-on-year increase of 21% in volume and 8% in value.

The average price for China’s imported sawn timber in 2016 was US$253 per m3, down 10% on 2015.

Of total sawn timber imports, sawn softwood import volumes rose 22% to 17.82 million m3, accounting for 55% of the national total. The average price for imported sawn softwood in 2016 was US$176 per m3, down 10% year-on-year.

Sawn hardwood imports grew 20% to 14.33 million m3. The average price for imported sawn hardwoods in 2016 was US$349 per m3, down 10% year-on-year.

Of total sawn hardwood imports, imports of sawn timber from tropical countries were 5.74 million m3 valued at US$2.118bn, up 20% in volume and 3% in value and accounted for 18% of the national total.

The average price for sawn timber imported from tropical countries was US$369 per m3, a year-on-year decline of 15%.