There was a dramatic decline in China’s softwood log imports China’s log imports in the first half of 2022 totalled 22.38 million cubic metres valued at US$4.567 billion, down 29% in volume and 13% in value, however, the average price for imported logs was US$204 (CIF) per cubic metre, up 22% from the same period of 2021. Source: Tropical Timber Market Report
Of total log imports, softwood log imports plummeted 39% to 15.16 million cubic metres, accounting for 68% of the national total. However, the average price for imported softwood logs rose 17% to US$166 (CIF) per cubic metre over the same period.
The main reason for the decline in log import volumes was the drop in imports from the major suppliers; New Zealand, Germany, Russia and US fell 19%, 51%, 58% and 31% respectively due to the economic slowdown in China, lower harvest levels in some countries and surging sea freight rates.
There were almost no log imports from Australia in the first half of 2022. Australia has completely disappeared from the list of major suppliers of logs to China. China’s log imports from Australia have been declining and came to zero finally because of a ban on imports as the quarantine service in China says it has again detected pests in a log shipment.
Since the beginning of 2020 the quarantine service has repeatedly said that it has detected live pests such as the long horn beetle, Cerambycidae and jewel beetles, Buprestidae in logs imported from Australia.
