Chinese log imports trend upward
12 May 2016Softwood log imports to China picked up in March to the highest level in 12 months. The total import volume for Q1, 2016 was just over seven million m3, which was about 2% higher than in the Q1, 2015, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ).
With declining log inventories at the Chinese ports (about 40% lower this year than the same time last year), and an uptick in demand for wood in the domestic market, importation of logs has been trending upward since last autumn when import volumes were the lowest in almost three years.
An interesting development in the past few years has been Australia's increased presence in the Chinese log market. In three years, Australia has increased its log shipments almost three-fold to China and the country now has a 10% market share, equal to that of the US.
