US Dollar Exchange Rates of 15th August. 2009
China Yuan 6.8350
Report from China
China¡¯s trade in major forest products dips in first half of 2009
Affected by the global financial crisis, China¡¯s imports
and exports of major forest products during the first half of
2009 continued to drop compared to the same period 2008.
Despite the overall drop, a slight upward trend was seen in
the second quarter. Data from customs agencies shows the
total trade value of forest products in China reached about
USD26 billion in the first half of 2009, down 16% from
the first half of 2008. Imports by value were USD11.1
billion, down 21% from the previous year. Exports by
value were USD14.9 billion, down 12% from last year.
However, exports by value during second quarter rose
15% over the first quarter.
Statistics data shows that China¡¯s trade of major forest
products fell from 2008, but a rising trend was seen from
the first to second quarters. Import values for the first half
of 2008 and 2009 are shown below:
A total of 13.29 million m³ of logs were imported in China
in the first half of 2009, valued at about 1.8 billion US
dollars, down 19% by volume and 35 % by value from the
same period of 2008. However, compared with that in the
first quarter, import volume in the second quarter reached
7.69 million m³. Of the total log imports, softwood imports
were 9.72 million m³, valued at USD1.036 billion, down
1% and 15% respectively from last year. Imports of
hardwood were 3.572 million m³, valued at USD773
million, down 45% and 51% respectively. Compared with
the first quarter, hardwood imports in the second quarter
rose 7% by volume and 14% by value. Among the imports
of hardwood, tropical log imports amounted to 2.71
million m³, down 35% from last year.
Russia remained the largest supplier of logs to China, A
total of 7.675 million m3 of logs were imported from
Russia, valued at USD885 million, accounting for 58%
and 49% of the total respectively. Other suppliers of logs
to China were New Zealand (1.87 million m3, accounting
for 14%), PNG (0.75 million m3, 6%), Solomon Islands
(0.58 million m3, 4%) and Gabon (0.51 million m3, 4%).
A total of 11.38 million m³ of logs were imported from the
above five countries, representing 86% of China¡¯s total
logs imports. A total of 2.7 million m³ of tropical logs
were imported in the first half of this year, down 35%
from last year.
A total of 4.11 million m³ of sawnwood was imported
during the first half of 2009, valued at USD948 million, up
20% by volume and down 1.5% by value from the same
period of last year. Of the total imports of sawnwood
(excluding sleepers), coniferous sawnwood imports were
2.68 million m³, broadleaved sawnwood imports were 1.42
million m³, accounting for 65% and 35% of the total
respectively. The major suppliers of sawnwood to China
were Russia (1.448 million m³), Canada (0.91 million m³),
Thailand (0.382 million m³), the US (0.35 million m³), and
New Zealand (0.178 million m³). A total of 3.268 million
m³ of sawnwood were imported from these five countries,
representing 80% of China¡¯s total sawnwood imports.
A total of 76,600 m³ of plywood were imported, valued at
USD40.59 million, down 52% by volume and 55% by
value. A total of 136,800 tons of fiberboard were
imported, valued at USD54.48 million, down 17% by
volume and 23% by value from the same period of last
year. China imported 142,900 tons of particleboard,
valued at USD42.93 million, up 18% in volume and down
8.5% from the same period of last year.
China imported about 7 million tons of pulp (including
some non-wood pulp), valued at USD3.2 million, up 40%
by volume and down 11% by value from the same period
of last year. A total of 0.83 million tons of wood chips
were imported, valued at UD106 million, up 42% by
volume and 8% by value from the same period of last
year.
Table 1 above and Table 2 below show that among total
trade of forest products, the import value of pulp, logs,
waste paper and sawnwood accounted for 68% of the total
imported forest products by value in the first half of 2009.
The export value of wooden furniture, paper and board,
wooden products and plywood amounted to 72% of total
export value of forest products during the same period.
A total of 113.51 million pieces of wooden furniture were
exported in the first half of 2009, valued at USD5.0
million, down 3.9% in volume and 3.7% in value from the
same period of last year. A total of 2.65 million tons of
paper, paperboard and paper products were exported,
valued at USD3.284 billion, down 17% in volume and
10% in value from the same period of last year. The value
of other wooden products exports, including doors,
windows, handicrafts, tableware and packing material
amounted to USD1.391 billion, falling 11% from the same
period of last year.
A total of 2.4 million m³ of plywood was exported in the
first half of 2009, valued at USD1.1 billion, down 36% in
volume and 36% in value from the same period of last
year. A total of 554,500 tons of fiberboard was exported in
the first half of 2009, valued at USD341 million, down
46% in volume and 39% in value. Exports of particleboard
fell 49% in volume to 32,900 tons from January to June of
2009 valued at USD14.25 million, down 39% in value
from the same period of last year.
Sawnwood exports amounted to only 288,300 m³ in the
first half of 2009, valued at USD180.35 million, down
19% in volume and 11% in value from the same period of
last year.
A total of 130,600 tons of resin and its products were
exported in the first half of 2009, valued at USD150
million, down 40% in volume and 38% in value form the
same period of last year.
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