In 2018 China’s sawnwood imports totalled 36.74 million cubic metres valued at $10.13 billion, a year-on-year decline of 2% in volume and a slight increase (1%) in value, as ITTO reported.
The average price for imported sawnwood was $216 per cubic metre, up 2% on 2017. Both sawn softwood and sawn hardwood imports declined in 2018. Of total sawnwood imports, sawn softwood imports fell 1% to 24.88 million cubic metres, accounting for 68% of the national total. The average price for imported sawn softwood was $201 per cubic metre, up 3% year-on-year.
Sawn hardwood imports fell 4% to 11.86 million cubic metres because China’s sawn hardwood imports from the top sources, Thailand and USA, fell 4% and 8%, respectively. The average price for imported sawn hardwoods was $433 per cubic metre, up 3% year-on-year.
Of total sawn hardwood imports, tropical sawnwood imports were 7.19 million cubic metres valued at $2.678 billion, down 2% in volume and 3% in value and accounted for about 20% of the national total. The average price for imported tropical sawnwood was $372 per cubic metre, a year-on-year decrease of only 1%.
