Tropical log imports in the first two months of 2020 amounted 1.30 million cubic metres, down 26% year on year and accounted for 17% of the national total.
In the first two months of 2020, China imported tropical logs mainly from Papua New Guinea (39%), Solomon Islands (14%), Brazil (10%), Equatorial Guinea (8.4%), the Republic of Congo (5.8%), Mozambique (5.5%), Cameroon (4.7%), Suriname (2.9%), CAR (2.5%) and South Africa (2.3%). Just 10 countries supplied 95% of China’s tropical log requirements in the first two months of 2020.
Among top source countries for tropical hardwood log imports, imports from Surinam and the CAR jumped 138% and 136% to 38,000 cubic metres and 33,000 cubic metres respectively.
The volume of log imports from Brazil and South Africa also rose 31% and 15% to 132,000 cubic metres and 30,000 cubic metres respectively.
However, most of countries from which tropical log imports declined greatly included Equatorial Guinea (- 58%), Solomon (-54%), the Republic of Congo (-45%) and Cameroon (-42%).
| Volume m3 (000s) | Change in % yoy | |
| Papau New Guinea | 507 | -7% |
| Solomon Is. | 178 | -54% |
| Brazil | 132 | +31% |
| Equatorial Guinea | 109 | -58% |
| Republic of Congo | 75 | -45% |
| Mozambique | 71 | -24% |
| Cameroon | 61 | -42% |
| Suriname | 38 | +138% |
| CAR | 33 | +146% |
| South Africa | 30 | +15% |
Data source: China Customs
| Value US$ | Change in % yoy | Average C&F price US$ | |
| Papau New Guinea | 93,785,677 | -7% | 185 |
| Solomon Is. | 30,296,769 | -58% | 170 |
| Brazil | 14,297,620 | +26% | 109 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 29,532,100 | -60% | 271 |
| Republic of Congo | 25,822,847 | -46% | 343 |
| Mozambique | 37,582,308 | -33% | 528 |
| Cameroon | 16,199,542 | -47% | 266 |
| Suriname | 10,004,190 | +137% | 263 |
| CAR | 10,628,760 | +126% | 324 |
| South Africa | 2,965,797 | +1% | 100 |
Data source: China Customs
Before their log export bans Laos and Myanmar were a major source of tropical logs for China. However, China’s log imports from Laos in the first two months of 2020 fell to just 5,602 cubic metres valued at US$8.04 million, down 59% in volume and 50% in value. China’s log imports from Myanmar fell to just 434 cubic metres valued at US$0.58 million, down 82% both in volume and in value.
Sharp rise in tropical log imports through Qingdao Port
In the first two months of 2020, 74% of imported tropical logs arrived at three major ports, Zhangjiagang, Qingdao and Jingjiang ports. The volume of tropical logs handled at Qingdao Port rose over 400% year on year to 324,000 cubic metres valued at US$D74 million. However, tropical log imports through Zhangjiagang port and Jingjiagn port were 400,000 cubic metres and 255,000 cubic metres valued at US$97.46 million and US$67.43 million cubic metres respectively all down from a year earlier.
Average imported log prices US$/cu.m CIF
| 2020 Jan | 2020 Feb | |
| Okoume | 323 | 293 |
| Merswa | 181 | 183 |
| Teak | 674 | 557 |
| Merbau | 432 | 390 |
| Birch | 125 | 128 |
| Oak | 312 | 313 |
Data source: China Customs. Customs value all grades, all sources
Average imported sawnwood prices US$/cu.m CIF
| 2020 Jan | 2020 Feb | |
| Sapelli | 583 | 644 |
| Merbau | 852 | 853 |
| Teak | 800 | 782 |
| Lauan | 301 | 326 |
| African Mahogany | 464 | 401 |
| Oak | 481 | 507 |
Data source: China Customs. Customs value all grades, all sources
