China's sawn timber imports in the first half of the year (import volume and price)
According to China Customs data show that the first half of the total sawn timber imports of 14.31 million cubic metres, an increase of 10%; valued at $ 3.659 billion, down 5%; the average CIF (CIF) price of $ 256 / cubic metre, a decline of 13%.
Russia for the first largest sawn timber suppliers, imports in the first half of 6.51 million cubic metres, accounting for 45.5% of the total sawn timber imports, an increase of 6%; valued at 1.366 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year decline of 5%;
Thailand is the second largest supplier of sawn timber, imports in the first half of 2.07 million cubic metres, accounting for 14.5% of total sawn timber imports, an increase of 3%; valued at $ 504 million, an increase of 1%;
Canada is the third largest supplier of sawn timber, total imports in the first half of 770,000 cubic metres, an increase of 3%; valued at $160 million, down 29%.
As seen from the statistics, the overall trend of sawn timber imports increased. Among them, Sweden with an increase of 86% to occupy the first place, Gabon with a decline of 14% to occupy the last place.
Softwood sawn timber imports
Softwood sawn timber imports were 9.47 million cubic metres, accounting for 66% of the total, up 22% year-on-year; the average CIF price was US$203 per cubic metre, down 17%.
Russia is China's largest supplier of softwood sawn timber, imports in the first half of 5.91 million cubic metres, accounting for 62.4% of the total softwood imports, up 7% year-on-year;
Canada is China's second largest supplier of softwood sawn timber, imports in the first half of 732,000 cubic metres, soaring 198%.
China's imports of sawn timber from Sweden, Germany and Belarus have increased.
Hardwood sawn timber imports
Hardwood sawn timber imports were 4.84 million cubic metres, up 2% year-on-year; the average CIF price was US$358 per cubic metre, a
down 6% year-on-year.
Thailand is China's top supplier of hardwood sawn timber, with imports of 2.07 million cubic metres in the first half of the year, accounting for 42.8% of total hardwood sawn timber imports, up 3% year-on-year;
The United States is China's second largest supplier of hardwood sawn timber, imports in the first half of 649,000 cubic metres, accounting for 13.4% of total hardwood sawn timber imports, an increase of 18%;
Russia is China's third largest supplier of hardwood sawn timber, imports in the first half of 607,000 cubic metres, accounting for 12.5% of total hardwood sawn timber imports, an increase of 5%.
Most of the other countries were up to varying degrees, but Myanmar led the way with 133% of imports (133,000 cubic metres); Gabon was down 14% and Romania 23%.
Tropical hardwood sawn timber imports:
Among hardwood sawn timber, tropical hardwood sawn timber imports were 3.26 million cubic metres, up 3% year-on-year; valued at US$948 million, down 1% year-on-year; and with an average CIF price of US$291 per cubic metre, down 4% year-on-year.
Thailand has become the largest supplier of tropical sawn timber, which is mainly due to the large number of rubberwood shipments to China.
China imported 2.07 million cubic metres of sawn timber from Thailand in the first half of the year, accounting for 64 per cent of total hardwood sawn timber imports, up 3 per cent year-on-year; the value was $504 million, up 1 per cent year-on-year; the average CIF price was $243 per cubic metre, a fall of 3 per cent.
The Philippines and Gabon are the second and third largest importers of tropical sawnwood, accounting for 11 per cent and 8 per cent respectively.
The top 10 countries - Thailand, Philippines, Gabon, Myanmar, Cameroon, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Laos - supplied 96 per cent of China's tropical hardwood sawn timber.
On a country-by-country basis, tropical hardwood sawn timber CIF prices generally trended downwards, but Myanmar and Indonesia soared by 88 per cent and 58 per cent respectively.
Imported sawn timber price data
Imported sawn timber cif (CIF) prices from each country showed a general downward trend. Price reductions have largely remained at around 20 per cent, peaking at 33 per cent (Chile).
CIF (CIF) prices and the rate of decline by country are as follows (ranked by how much is imported):
Russia, with an average price of US$210/m3, down 11%;
Thailand, average price US$243/m3, down 3%;
Canada, at an average price of US$209/m3 , down 31 per cent;
United States, average price US$631/m3, down 21 per cent;
Sweden, with an average price of $207/m3, down 25 per cent;
Germany, with an average price of $229/m3 , down 25 per cent;
Finland, at an average price of US$220/m3 , down 11 per cent;
Belarus, average price US$202/m3 , down 13 per cent;
Philippines, average price US$76/m3 , down 14 per cent;
Gabon, at an average price of US$385/m3 , down 8%;
Chile, at an average price of $217/m3, down 33 per cent.
