US Dollar Exchange Rates of 30th January 2010
China Yuan 6.8269
Report from China
2009 Forest industry output
According to preliminary statistics in the report “2009
National Forestry Economy Performance” from the State
Forestry Administration (SFA), the value of China’s
forest industry output in 2009 (at current prices)
amounted to RMB1.58 trillion, up around 10% from
2008, but the pace of growth was slower than in 2008.
The volumetric output of timber nationally in 2009 has
been estimated at 69 million cu.m, down 14 percent to
about the level in 2007. Output of bamboo in 2009 was
largely unchanged, but that for wood-based panels rose
21% to around 113 million cu.m.
According to monthly statistics on industrial enterprises
with over RMB5 million of sales, by the end of
November 2009, output of major wood products
enterprises increased on that for 2008.
The national accumulative output of wooden furniture
was 182.6 million pieces, up 3 percent from 2008. The
output of solid wooden flooring came to 95.15 million
square metres, down 3 percent from the same period in
2008.
The output of wood composite flooring amounted to
271.83 million square metres, up 0.7 percent from the
same period in 2008. The growth in timber processing is
estimated to have risen 17% on 2008; the furniture
industry is estimated to have grown 8% in 2009.
Forest exchange established
It has been reported that a Forest Tenure Exchange was
established recently with support from the State Forestry
Administration and the Beijing government. This will
provide a national exchange platform for forest resources,
markets and for forest carbon credits.
The new exchange is controlled by state holding
companies. The scope of the exchange includes a forestry
indicator trading centre, a forest tenure trading trusteeship
registration centre, a forest resources assets evaluation
centre and a bulk forest commodities trading centre.
The following services will reportedly be provided; a
nationwide forest land trading trusteeship and information
service, a forest tenure certificate mortgaging and
financing service, a forest resource assets evaluation
service, a bulk forest commodities trading service.
Information on forest tenure transfer trading, forest tenure
mortgaging and financing and trading market will be
published openly via an electric screen.
Guangdong furniture exports to ASEAN
Guangdong is one of the major furniture production and
exporting provinces in China. Exports to ASEAN
countries remain strong even as the traditional export
markets have been battered due to the international
financial crisis.
According to the statistics from Guangzhou Customs,
furniture exports fell slightly overall but exports to
AESAN countries rose in 2009. Overall, furniture and
parts exports from Guangdong Province in 2009 totaled
US$9.96 billion, down 3 percent from 2008 but furniture
exports to ASEAN countries rose to US$1.15 billion.
Exports and exports to Middle East countries grew 14
percent.
Analysts from Guangdong Customs said that Guangdong
furniture exports in 2009 have been increasing steadily.
The main reason for the increase is said to be the export
tax rebate for furniture exporters which was increased in
June 2009.
Although Guangdong furniture exports to the US and EU
fell (15 percent and 8 percent respectively), those to
ASEAN countries rose considerably. Further growth is
expected as the ASEAN/China FTA comes into effect.
Local experts suggest that EU and US have trade policies
which pose an obstacle to Guangdong furniture exporting.
As a result furniture exporting enterprises are being
encouraged to explore emerging markets, establish oversea
selling channels of their own, reduce the dependence on
EU and the US markets and strengthen the innovation of
design and technology of their furniture products.
Change in structure of imports in Erlian Port
According to statistics from Erlian Customs, a change has
been seen in the structure of imported timber through
Erlian Port. This features a decline in log imports and an
increase in sawnwood imports.
Log imports in 2009 totaled 1.43 million cu.m, valued at
US$165 million, down 18 percent in volume and 30
percent in value from 2008. Sawnwood imports in 2009
amounted to 0.61 million cu.m valued at US$111 million,
up 26 percent in volume and 21 percent in value from
2008.
The main reason for this change is that Russian export
tariff rate on logs is higher but on sawnwood is zero thus
traders get more profits from importing sawnwood.
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