China’s sawnwood imports reached 8.29 million cubic metres in the first three months of 2018, up five per cent over the same period of 2017. Sawn hardwood imports rose 15 per cent to 2.91 million cubic metres.

Of total sawn hardwood imports, sawnwood imports from tropical countries were 1.67 million cubic metres valued at US$662 million, up 25 per cent in volume and 32 per cent in value and accounted for 20 per cent of the national total.

The average price for sawnwood imported from tropical countries was US$395 per cubic metre, down seven per cent from the same period of 2017.

Six tropical countries supplied just over 90 per cent of China’s ‘tropical’ sawnwood requirements in the first three months of 2018 namely, Thailand (72%), Gabon (7%), Indonesia (5%), the Philippines (4%), Malaysia (4%) and Cameroon (2%).

(Source: ITTO)