China's timber imports decline amid factory slowdown

Posted on July 29, 2024   |  

China's log imports dropped by 30% in June 2024, with sawlog imports falling from 3,837 thousand m³ to 2,695 thousand m³ compared to last year.

Imports of birch sawlogs from Russia fell by 41% to 79,600 m³, and NZ radiata pine imports decreased by 27%, from 1,710 thousand m³ to 1,255 thousand m³.

In 2023, China’s log imports were down by nearly 13%, with 38,028.8 thousand m³ compared to 43,603.9 thousand m³ in 2022.

Timber imports into China fell by 14% in June, following a 7% drop from April to June.

Russian lumber now makes up nearly 46% of China’s imports, totaling 3,228 thousand m³ out of 7,242 thousand m³.

China’s economic growth has slowed to 4.75%, down from the 7-8% growth rates in the 2010s.