China increased paper and paperboard exports by 65% in 2005 to 1.67 million tonnes

Feb 17, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. China increased paper and paperboard exports by 65% in 2005 to 1.67 million tonnes, compared to 2004, according to China’s Customs Office statistics. Import China’s log imports totalled 29.37 million cubic meter($3.2 billion) in 2005, up 10.4% (up 16% in value) from 2004. Tropical timber imports accounted for 7.42 million cubic meter(25% of total log imports), up almost 1%. Log imports were mainly from Russia (20.04 million cubic meter, 68% of the total), Malaysia (1.86 million cubic meter), PNG (1.84 million cubic meter), Myanmar (1.13 million cubic meter), Gabon (0.8 million cubic meter), Solomon Islands (0.65 million cubic meter), New Zealand (0.64 million cubic meter), Congo (454,000 cubic meter), Germany (445,000 cubic meter), Equatorial Guinea (304,000 cubic meter) and Australia (236,000 cubic meter). Most log imports came through the ports of Manzhouli (8.1 million cubic meter), Harbin (7.1 million cubic meter, notably through Suifenhe port), Nanjing (5.65 million cubic meter, notably through Zhangjiagang port), Hohhot (2.67 million cubic meter, notably Erlian), Shanghai (1.02 million cubic meter) and Kunming (1.01 million cubic meter, notably Ruili). China’s sawnwood imports amounted to 5.97 million cubic meter($1.51 billion) in 2005, up 1.3% (up 8.7% in value) from 2004. Sawnwood imports were mainly from Russia (1.06 million cubic meter, 18% of total imports), the USA (852,000 cubic meter), Thailand (762,000 cubic meter), Indonesia (720,000 cubic meter), Malaysia (475,000 cubic meter), Canada (350,000 cubic meter), Myanmar (321,000 cubic meter), Brazil (280,000 cubic meter), New Zealand (217,000 cubic meter) and Chile (143,000 cubic meter). China’s plywood imports continued their downward trend, declining to 589,100 cubic meter($276.68 million) in 2005, down over 26% (down 28% in value) from 2004. Plywood imports were mainly from Indonesia (65%) and Malaysia (21%). Other imports included waste paper (17.04 million tonnes valued at $2.46 billion), pulp (7.59 million tonnes valued at $3.73 billion), and paper and cardboard (5.21 million tonnes valued at $3.55 billion). Export China’s sawnwood exports were 615,000 cubic meter($278.5 million) in 2005, up 26% (up 27% in value) from 2004. Exports went mainly to Japan (392,000 cubic meter), South Korea (74,000 cubic meter), Taiwan P.O.C. (38,000 cubic meter) and the USA (21,000 cubic meter). Plywood exports continued to climb, reaching 5.59 million cubic meter($1.88 billion) in 2005, up 30% (up 50% in value) from 2004. Main export markets were the USA (1.7 million cubic meter, 30% of total plywood exports), Japan (429,500 cubic meter, 7.7%), South Korea (321,100 cubic meter, 5.7%), the UK (316,400 cubic meter, 5.6%) and Taiwan P.O.C. (287,800 cubic meter, 5%). Paper and paperboard exports amounted to 1.67 million tonnes ($1.344 billion) in 2005, up 65% (up 64% in value) from 2004. Exports of all type of furniture (including wooden and metal furniture) climbed 33% to over $13.5 billion in 2005.