Dramatic decline in China’s softwood log imports in H1/2022

China’s log imports in the first half of 2022 totaled 22.38 million cubic meters valued at US$4.567 billion, down 29% in volume and 13% in value, However, the average price for imported logs was US$204 (CIF) per cubic meter, up 22% from the same period of 2021.

Of total log imports, softwood log imports plummeted 39% to 15.16 million cubic meters, accounting for 68% of the national total. However, the average price for imported softwood logs rose 17% to US$166 (CIF) per cubic meter over the same period.

The main reason for the decline in log import volumes was the drop in imports from the major suppliers; New Zealand, Germany, Russia and US fell 19%, 51%, 58% and 31% respectively due to the economic slowdown in China, lower harvest levels in some countries and surging sea freight rates.

No log imports from Australia

There were almost no log imports from Australia in the first half of 2022. Australia has completely disappeared from the list of major suppliers of logs to China.

China’s log imports from Australia have been declining and came to zero finally because of a ban on imports as the quarantine service in China once again detected pests in a log shipment. Since the beginning of 2020 the quarantine service has repeatedly detected live pests such as the long horn beetle, Cerambycidae and jewel beetles, Buprestidae in logs imported from Australia.

Main softwood log sources in the first half of 2022

Imports of softwood logs from almost all of China’s major suppliers fell in the first half of 2022. However, China’s softwood log imports from Latvia alone surged to 219,000 cubic metres in the first half of 2022.

China’s log import in H1/2021 (volume) 

Data source: China Customs

China’s log import in H1/2022 (value) 

Data source: China Customs

Major softwood log suppliers in H1/2022

Data source: China Customs

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