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