In the first half of 2017 China’s softwood log imports were 17.51 million cubic metres. The main imported softwood log species in the first half of 2017 were radiata pine (7.56 million cubic metres, 43%), spruce and fir (2.51 million cubic metres, 14%), Korean and Scots pine (2.04 million cubic metres, 12%), larch (1.20 million cubic metres, 7%) and douglas fir (0.88 million cubic metres, 5%).
The volume of radiata pine and douglas fir imports rose 14% and 6%, but Korean pine and scots pine, spruce, fir and larch imports fell 18%, 5% and 2%, respectively. These species accounted for 81% of total softwood log imports.
China’s radiata pine log imports were from New Zealand (78%) and Australia (21%). Minor amounts were from South Africa and Chile. Over 90% of spruce and fir logs were imported from Russia (61%), Canada (16%) and the USA (15%) while pine logs (Korean and scots pine) were imported from Russia (86%) and Ukraine (6%).
China’s larch log imports were from Russia and New Zealand while douglas fir logs were imported from the USA (55%), Canada (28%) and New Zealand (17%). Small amounts were from France, Australia, Denmark and Russia.
