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US
Dollar Exchange Rates of 15th November 2006
China Yuan
7.869
Report from China
China sustains expansion of trade in timber products
China¡¯s trade in timber products continued to grow during the first three quarters of 2006 in tandem with its
economy. China had increased imports of raw materials, particularly logs, while expanding exports of added value timber products.
Russia takes lion share of China¡¯s log imports
China¡¯s log imports totaled 24.3 million m3 ($2.86 billion) during the first three quarters of 2006, up 9.8% (17.8% in
value) from the same period in 2005. The chart below shows that Russia remained by far China¡¯s largest log supplier, accounting for almost 70% of total log imports.
Imports from PNG (6.1% of total imports) rose sharply, overtaking those from Malaysia. The top tropical log
suppliers (PNG, Malaysia, Myanmar, Gabon, Solomon Isl., Eq. Guinea, Congo and Cameroon) accounted for over
22% of China¡¯s total log imports during the period. Chinese log imports through Manzhouli customs
accounted for 30% of the imports, followed by Harbin (22%) and Nanjing (20%).
Tropical sawnwood accounts for one-third of imports
China¡¯s sawnwood imports reached 4.6 million m3 ($1.26 billion) in the period, up 1.2% in volume (up 12.4% in
value) from 2005. The chart below shows that Russia (20% of total sawnwood imports) and the USA (16.6%)
remained the largest sawnwood suppliers. Thailand was the largest supplier of tropical sawnwood at almost 12% of
the total imports. China¡¯s top tropical sawnwood suppliers (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Myanmar)
accounted for 35% of the imports in the period. Guangdong customs handled 36% of China¡¯s sawnwood
imports, followed by Shanghai (25.5%) and Manzhouli (12%).
Plywood and fiberboard imports suffer sharp fall
China¡¯s plywood imports fell sharply 27.3% to 339,900 m3 (down 28.8% to $162.8 million) in the perio under
review, compared with 2005. Imported plywood came mainly from Indonesia (57.5%) and Malaysia (26.4%).
Similarly, Chinese imports of fiberboard fell 13% to 434,600 tonnes (down 13% to $148.55 million), compared
with 2005. In contrast, China¡¯s veneer imports rose 36% to 78,600 tonnes in the period (up 33% to $89.36 million).
Sawnwood exports register robust expansion
China¡¯s exports of sawnwood rose 39.4% to 637,400 m3, (up 26% to $262.3 million) in the first three quarters of
2006, compared with the same period in 2005. The chart below shows that Chinese sawnwood exports went mainly
to Japan (50.6%) and the USA (14.6%).
Plywood and furniture exports grow rapidly too
China¡¯s plywood exports continued their upward trend, jumping 45.3% to over 5.9 million m3 (up 52% to $2.05
billion) in the period under review. The chart below shows that plywood was mainly shipped to the USA (29.1%),Japan (7.6%) and UK (7%).
Meanwhile, China¡¯s wooden furniture exports continued
to surge in the first three quarters of 2006, leaping 76% to 5.77 billion (up 23% to 132.13 million pieces). China
consolidated itself as the world¡¯s largest furniture exporter. USA accounted for over 52% of China¡¯s wooden furniture exports.
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