China’s log imports fell sharply in the first half of 2020 to 24.51 million cubic metres valued at US$3.558 billion, down 60% in volume and 62% in value from the same period of 2019.
Of total log imports, softwood log imports fell 61% to 17.64 million cubic metres, accounting for 72% of the national total. Hardwood log imports fell 55% to 6.87 million cubic metres (28% of the national total log imports).
Of total hardwood log imports, tropical log imports were 4.11 million cubic metres valued at US$956 million, down 59% in volume and 64% in value from the same period of 2019 and accounted for 60% of all hardwood log imports.
US no longer largest log supplier
The main countries supplying more than 1 million cubic metres of logs to China in the first half of 2020 were New Zealand, Russia, Germany, Australia, PNG, Czech Rep., US and Solomon Islands. Shipments of logs to China from all main suppliers fell in the first half of the year. The decline of more than 70% in shipments of logs from the US was the most significant.