China’s log imports were 14.38 million cubic metres in the first three months of 2018, up 14% over the same period of 2017, hardwood log imports rose 25% to 4.93 million cubic metres, as ITTO reported.
Of total hardwood imports in the 1Q 2018, tropical hardwood log imports totalled 2.65 million cubic metres, up 23% over the same period of 2017 and accounted for 18% of the national total. The value of tropical log imports in the first three months of 2018 was $837 million reflecting a 28% rise. The average price for imported tropical logs in the first three months of 2018 rose 5% to $316 per cubic metre.
Before its log export ban Myanmar was a major source of tropical logs for China. Log imports from Myanmar in the first three months of 2018 were just 2,500 cubic metres valued at $3.43 million. At an average price of $1,372 it seems unlikely that these were plantation logs.
China imported tropical logs mainly from Papua New Guinea (32%), Solomon Islands (28%), Equatorial Guinea (11%), Nigeria (5%), Cameroon (5%), Congo Brazzaville (4%).
