China
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China’s property market shows signs of recovery
China’s real estate sector is showing signs of stabilisation after years of decline, raising the prospect of a renewed demand for timber imports. As one of the largest consumers of wood products globally, any revival in China’s construction activity could have significant implications for the international timber trade. At a press conference on March 9, China’s Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ni Hong, stated that since January and February, the market has shown a “positive trend of stopping declines and returning to stabilisation.” These remarks come as policymakers attempt to bolster confidence in the economy, which has been weighed down by persistent real estate downturns and increasing external pressures, including US trade restrictions. Following a prolonged slump, the Chinese property sector appears to be responding to government measures aimed at... Continue reading
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March 5, 2025
China’s lumber market in 2024: Falling softwood imports, rising hardwood demand
According to data from China’s Customs, 2024 lumber imports totaled 26.74 million cubic meters valued at US$6.86 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 4% in volume but an increase of 0.3% in value on 2023. The average price for imported lumber in 2024 was US$257 per cubic metre, a year-on-year increase of 4%.... Continue reading
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February 19, 2025
Softwood log imports drop 7% as China’s total log demand weakens
Decline in log imports in 2024 According to China Customs, log imports in 2024 totalled 36.1 million cubic metres valued at US$6.159 billion, a decline of 5% in volume and 4% in value year on year. The average price for imported logs was US$171 (CIF) per cubic metre, up 2% on 2023 levels. Of total 2024 log imports, softwood log imports fell 7% to 26.12 million cubic metres and accounted for 72% of the national total, down 2 percentage points from the 2023 level. The average price for imported softwood logs was US$130 (CIF) per cubic metre, down 3% on 2023 levels. Hardwood log imports in 2024 rose 1% to 9.98 million cubic metres (28% of the national total log imports). The average price for imported hardwood logs in 2024 was US$277 (CIF) per cubic metre, up 5% on 2023 levels. Of total hardwood log imports, tropical log imports were 5.52 million cubic metres valued at US$1.408... Continue reading
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March 12, 2025
China’s property market shows signs of recovery
China’s real estate sector is showing signs of stabilisation after years of decline, raising the prospect of a renewed demand for timber imports. As one of the largest consumers of wood products globally, any revival in China’s construction activity could have significant implications for the international timber trade. At a press conference on March 9, China’s Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ni Hong, stated that since January and February, the market has shown a “positive trend of stopping declines and returning to stabilisation.” These remarks come as policymakers attempt to bolster confidence in the economy, which has been weighed down by persistent real estate downturns and increasing external pressures, including US trade restrictions. Following a prolonged slump, the Chinese property sector appears to be responding to government measures aimed at... Continue reading
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February 19, 2025
Softwood log imports drop 7% as China’s total log demand weakens
Decline in log imports in 2024 According to China Customs, log imports in 2024 totalled 36.1 million cubic metres valued at US$6.159 billion, a decline of 5% in volume and 4% in value year on year. The average price for imported logs was US$171 (CIF) per cubic metre, up 2% on 2023 levels. Of total 2024 log imports, softwood log imports fell 7% to 26.12 million cubic metres and accounted for 72% of the national total, down 2 percentage points from the 2023 level. The average price for imported softwood logs was US$130 (CIF) per cubic metre, down 3% on 2023 levels. Hardwood log imports in 2024 rose 1% to 9.98 million cubic metres (28% of the national total log imports). The average price for imported hardwood logs in 2024 was US$277 (CIF) per cubic metre, up 5% on 2023 levels. Of total hardwood log imports, tropical log imports were 5.52 million cubic metres valued at US$1.408... Continue reading
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March 12, 2025
China’s property market shows signs of recovery
China’s real estate sector is showing signs of stabilisation after years of decline, raising the prospect of a renewed demand for timber imports. As one of the largest consumers of wood products globally, any revival in China’s construction activity could have significant implications for the international timber trade. At a press conference on March 9, China’s Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ni Hong, stated that since January and February, the market has shown a “positive trend of stopping declines and returning to stabilisation.” These remarks come as policymakers attempt to bolster confidence in the economy, which has been weighed down by persistent real estate downturns and increasing external pressures, including US trade restrictions. Following a prolonged slump, the Chinese property sector appears to be responding to government measures aimed at... Continue reading