Chinese pulpmills have continued to increase importation of hardwood chips throughout 2018, and import volumes reached a new record high of 3.5 million odmt in the 3Q/18 - 21% higher than in the 3Q/17. By far the biggest increase in chip supply this year has been in wood chips from Vietnam, with the total volume during the first nine months of 2018 being 34% higher than during the same period in 2017, according to recent Chinese Customs data.