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US
Dollar Exchange Rates of 15th Apr. 2008
China Yuan
6.993
Report from China
China and Russia strengthen forestry cooperation
The Vice Administrator for the China State Forestry
Association (SFA), Mr. Li Yucai, recently explained
China and Russia¡¯s forest cooperation at a forest and wood
processing investment conference sponsored by the SFA,
WWF and Forest Trends. He noted that China and Russia
signed a Memorandum on Strengthening Forestry
Cooperation and a series of agreements, including on joint
exploitation of forest resources and the prevention of
forest fires. Mr. Li also told participants that Chinese
enterprises have invested nearly USD1 billion in Russian
forestry.
According to Mr. Li, total production value of China¡¯s
forest products reached USD160 billion in 2007, up 9.85%
over the last year. The total volume of roundwood and
wood-based panels produced was 69.74 million m³ and
73.65 million m³, respectively. The total value of forest
products trade was USD57 billion. China currently ranks
first in terms of global outputs of resin and wood-based
panels and second in terms of furniture and paper
products.
Guangdong Province braces for wood shortage
Mr. Zhan Zhijun, Director of Guangdong Forest Products
Industry Association, revealed that wood prices would rise
in the next three to five years, which would greatly impact
downstream building material and paper making
enterprises. This is attributed to the shortage of supply
expected in the province following the effects of severe
winter weather (see TTM 13:4). Although Guangdong has
been one of the most important forest products production
and export provinces where wood consumption has
remained around 20 million m³ in recent years, it is likely
that consumption would be only 4 million m³ in the next
few years. Wood production levels will be determined by
imports from other provinces such as Hunan, Guangxi,
Fujian and Jiangxi and abroad. To address the imbalance
of wood demand and supply, the forestry department of
Guangdong is consulting with customs and quarantine
departments to set up wood collection and distribution
points at ports to import wood directly from foreign
countries.
Solidwood flooring shows strong growth in Guangdong Province
The flooring industry, especially the solid wood composite
flooring industry, has been developing rapidly in
Guangdong Province due to rising housing starts.
According to statistics, sales of commercial housing
reached 62.20 million m² in 2007 in Guangdong Province,
up 20% in the last year. According to a survey of 113
wood flooring enterprises, the production capacity of the
province was 151.94 million m², up 16.6% in the last year.
Of this total, solid wood flooring was 24.55 million m² (a
9.32% rise), solid wooden composite flooring was 53.41
million m² (up 40.52%), laminated flooring was 72.01
million m² (4.35%) and bamboo flooring was 1.92 million
m² (103%). There were 820 thousand hectares of fast
growing eucalypt plantations with growing stock of 20.63
million m³ in the province. Eucalypts were the material
base for most solid wood composite flooring and had
helped the province¡¯s share of production grow at a rate of
20% in the last three years.
Wood door industry shows vigorous growth in 2007
The wooden door industry in China has experienced
vigorous growth in recent years. Many furniture and wood
flooring enterprises have shifted to the production of
wooden doors. The total value of wooden doors produced
in China amounted to more than USD40 billion in 2007,
compared with USD32 billion in 2006, a 25% increase.
The export value of wooden doors amounted to USD557
million, up 13% from USD494 million in 2006.
Lianyugang Port tightens quality control of exports
The Inspection and Quarantine Bureau of Lianyungang
Port, Juangsu Province, indicated that quality control on
exported forest products has been tightened at the port to
adapt to quality standards in international markets.
According to this rule, all materials including auxiliary
materials have to pass physical and chemical tests before
being exported in accordance with technical standards of
the import country. The materials include paint, glue, cloth
and leather. Enterprises producing materials that do not
meet the requirements will be forced to comply with the
new quality standards.
Heilongjiang ports handle greater volume and value of imported logs
According to statistics from customs, Heilongjiang ports,
including Suifenhe Port, imported a total of 8.552 million
m³ of logs valued at USD960 million in 2007, up 19% and
40.5%, respectively, over the last year. The volume and
value of logs imported by Heilongjiang ports accounted
for 23% and about 18% of the country¡¯s total,
respectively.
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