US Dollar Exchange Rates of
15th
August
2025
China Yuan 7.18
Report from China
Household income
In a press release, the National Bureau of Statistics says in
the first half of 2025 nationwide per capita disposable
income increased 5.3% over the previous year and a real
increase of 5.4% after deducting price factors.
In terms of urban and rural areas, the per capita disposable
income of urban residents was 28,844 yuan, an increase of
4.7% and the per capita disposable income of rural
residents was 11,936 yuan, an increase of 5.9%.
See:
https://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202507/t2025073
0_1960541.html
Investment in Real Estate Development
The National Bureau of Statistics also reports between
January to June 2025 investment in real estate
development decreased 11.2% year on year. Investment in
residential buildings was down by 10.4%.
See:
https://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202508/t20250805_1960597.html
Decline in log imports
According to China Customs, China’s log imports totalled
16.79 million cubic metres valued at US$2.695 billion in
the first half of 2025, down 11% in volume and 18% in
value over the same period of 2024. The average price for
imported logs was US$160 (CIF) per cubic metre, down
8% from the same period of 2024.
Of total log imports, softwood log imports fell 7% to
12.34 million cubic metres, accounting for 73% of the
national total and up 3 percentage points from the same
period of 2024. The average price for imported softwood
logs declined 6% to US$123 (CIF) per cubic metre over
the same period of 2024.
Hardwood log imports dropped 20% to 4.45 million cubic
metres, accounting for 27% of the national total. The
average price for imported hardwood logs fell 5% to
US$263 (CIF) per cubic metre over the same period of
2024.
Of total hardwood log imports, tropical log imports were
2.31 million cubic metres valued at US$552 million CIF,
down 22% in volume and 28% in value from the same
period of 2024, accounting for 14% of the national total
import volume and were down 2 percentage points over
the same period of 2024.
Sharp decline in log imports from US
In the first half of 2025 China's log imports from the
United States plunged 63% to 411,000 cubic metres
valued at US$194 million, down 55% in value from the
same period of 2024 and this drove down overall log
imports.
The main reason for the sharp drop in China's imports of
logs from the United States was China's suspension of log
imports from the United States that started in March 2025.
To make up for the short fall caused by China's suspension
of log imports from the United States Chinese enterprises
have turned to importing logs from Canada and Latvia,
resulting in an increase of 4% and 47% in China's log
imports from the two countries in the first half of 2025.
In contrast, China’s log imports from PNG, Russia,
Solomon Is., Germany and France fell in the first half of
2025.
Japan, the second largest log supplier
China’s log imports from Japan rose 29% to 897,000 cubic
metres in the first half of 2025 and Japan became the
second largest log supplier. Almost all species of China’s
imported logs from Japan are softwoods.
Helped by the short transportation distance between China
and Japan, high-quality, large-diameter and competitively
priced softwood logs from Japan are appreciated by
Chinese manufacturers. China’s log imports from Japan
have been increasing since 2016.
Rise in log imports from European countries
As a result of the opening of the China-Europe Freight
Railway China's imports of logs from European countries
have increased in recent years. China’s log imports from
France and Germany rose 2% and 7% respectively in the
first half of 2025. It is worth noting that China’s log
imports from Slovakia surged over 100%.
Sharp decline in tropical log imports
China’s tropical log imports dropped 22% to 2.311 million
cubic metres in the first half of 2025. China imported
tropical logs mainly from Papua New Guinea (38%),
Solomon Islands (28%), South Africa (7%), Cameroon
(6%) and the Republic of Congo (5%). Just 5 countries
supplied 84% of China’s tropical log requirements in the
first half of 2025.
China’s tropical log imports from the top five countries,
Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, South Africa,
Cameroon and the Republic of Congo fell 18%, 30%,
35%, 22% and 32% respectively in the first half of 2025.
In contrast, China’s tropical hardwood log imports from
the Central Africa Rep. and Ecuador rose 49% and 5%
respectively in the first half of 2025.
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