China Wood Products Prices
16-31th May 2004

Dollar Exchange Rates of 21th May 2004
China Yuan 8.28
Report from China
 

Timber Imports Continue to Climb  

According to the latest statistics from China's Customs Office, in the first quarter of 2004 China timber imports continue to grow. The major wood product imports in the first quarter of 2004 are as follows: 

Logs 

In the first quarter of 2004 log imports were 6.449 million cubic metres valued at US$ 632 million (6.293 million cubic metres of logs valued at US$ 603 million last year), a year on year increase of 2.5% in volume and 4.8% in value.  

Of the total, coniferous log imports amounted to 3.903 million cubic metres worth US$257 million (3.618 million cubic metres of coniferous logs valued at US$ 226 million last year), a year on year increase of 7.9% in volume and 13.7% in value. Hardwood log imports came to 2.546 million cubic metres valued at US$375 billion (2.675 million cubic metres of hardwood logs valued at US$ 377 million last year), a year on year increase of 4.8% in volume and 0.5% in value.

Sawnwood  

In the first quarter of 2004 China imported 1.36 million cubic metres of sawnwood valued at US$298 million (1.242 million cubic metres of sawnwood valued at US$262 million last year), a year on year increase of 9.5% in volume and 13.7% in value. Of the total, coniferous sawnwood imports amounted to 364,000 cubic metres worth US$56 million (290,000 cubic metres of coniferous sawnwood valued at US$ 41 million last year), a year on year increase of 25.5% in volume and 36.6% in value. Hardwood sawnwood imports came to 996,000 metres valued at US$242 million (952,000 cubic metres of logs valued at US$ 221 million last year), a year on year decrease of 4.6% in volume and 9.5% in value.

Plywood and Veneer  

Imports of both plywood and veneer fell in the first quarter of 2004. China's plywood imports fell to 181,000 cubic metres (valued at US$ 79 million) from 200,000 cubic metres (valued at US$92 million), a year on year increase of 9.5% in volume and 14% in value.

 Veneer imports fell to 273,000 cubic metres from 464,000 cubic metres, a year on year decline of 41% in volume, but import value increased to US$23 million from US$21 million, a year on year increase of 9.5% due to the proportional increase of high value species.

 Fibreboard

In the first quarter of 2004 China imported 199,700 cubic metres of fiberboard valued at US$66 million (227,900 cubic metres of fiberboard valued at US$76 million last year), a year on year increase of 12.4% in volume and 13.2% in value.

Wood pulp and waste paper  

Imports of both wood pulp and waste paper have shot up due to a scarcity of paper making material locally. In the first quarter of 2004 China imported 1.7862 million tons of wood pulp valued at US$833 million (1.4579 million tons of wood pulp valued at US$590 million), a year on year increase of 22.5% in volume and 41.2% in value.

 China also imported 3.1038 million tons of waste paper valued at US$421 million (2.3144 million tons of waste paper valued at US$292 million), a year on year increase of 34% in volume and 44% in value. 

Guangzhou City Imported Timber Market  

Shanghai Furen Wholesale Market

Hebei Shijiangzhuang Wholesale Market

Shandong De Zhou Timber market

Tian Jin City Huan Bo Hai timber Market