China’s sawnwood imports were 8.29 million cubic metres in the first three months of 2018, up 5% over the same period of 2017. Sawn hardwood imports rose 15% to 2.91 million cubic metres, as ITTO reported.
Of total sawn hardwood imports, sawnwood imports from tropical countries were 1.67 million cubic metres valued at $662 million, up 25% in volume and 32% in value and accounted for 20% of the national total.
The average price for sawnwood imported from tropical countries was $395 per cubic metre, down 7% from the same period of 2017. Six tropical countries supplied just over 90% of China’s ‘tropical’ sawnwood requirements in the first three months of 2018 namely, Thailand (72%), Gabon (7%), Indonesia (5%), Philippines (4%), Malaysia (4%) and Cameroon (2%).