Jan 15, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. China's forestry industry continued steady development in 2009 and imports and exports of key timber products began to increase, according to the 2009 National Forestry Economic Operation Report released by the State Forestry Administration (SFA). Based on the SFA's preliminary statistics, the total output value of China's forest industry topped 1,580 billion yuan, ($231 million) up 9.81% year on year. Its growth rate was 5.13% lower than in 2008. Because of the impact of the Sichuan earthquake and snowstorms in 2008, China's timber output was expected to reach 69.38 million cubic meters during 2009, down 14.43% year on year. By the end of November 2009, the added value of related industries saw rapid growth. The figure of timber processing industry rose 17 .1% year on year, the furniture manufacturing industry was up 8 .5%, and the paper-making and paper products industry was up 9. 7%. Investment in forestry and related industries saw a big surge year on year for the first 11 months of 2009. The chart below illustrates the investment in and growth rate of afforestation, timber processing industry, furniture manufacturing industry, and the papermaking and paper products industry.