China’s first half 2018 wood products trade

Data from China Customs shows that in the first half of 2018 the value of China’s wood products trade totalled US$80.97 billion, up 9% from the same period of 2017 but this was a slower growth than in the first half of 2017.

Of the total, the value of exports in the first half rose 6% to US$39.1 billion. China’s traders accelerated their wood product exports to beat the introduction of tariffs by the US.

The value of imports of wood products rose 13% to US$41.9 billion in the first half of 2017, down 9% year on year. Overall the pace of China’s wood products imports was slower in the first half of 2018.

China: Main Wood Product Imports

Logs: In the first half of 2018 the volume of China’s log imports totalled 30.32 million cubic metres valued at US$5.8 billion, a year on year increase of 17% and 28% respectively.

Sawnwood: In the first half of 2018 the volume of China’s sawnwood imports totalled 18.15 million cubic metres valued at US$5.2 billion, a year on year increase of 0.1% and 9% respectively.

Wood pulp: In the first half of 2018 the volume of China’s wood pulp imports totalled 12.35 million tonnes valued at US$9.8 billion, a year on year increase of 2% and 33% respectively.

Source: ITTO TTM Report