Chinese lumber imports on the increase

Article by Birgit Fingerlos (translated by Eva Guzely) | 21.04.2022 - 09:21

In the first three months of 2022, China imported 4 million m³ of softwood lumber, recording an increase of 12.5% compared to the same period of last year when imports had totaled 3.6 million m³. The biggest volume, i. e. 2.5 million m³, came from Russia, which accounts for 62.5% of China’s overall softwood lumber imports.

In the first quarter, Russian softwood lumber shipments to China grew by 20.5% year on year. Double-digit increases were also recorded in imports from Canada (418,000 m³; +66.5%), Finland (261,000 m³; +35%), Sweden (162,000 m³; +40%) and Germany (160,000 m³; +21%).

Shipments from Ukraine, on the other hand, more than halved in the first three months of this year (120,000 m³; -53%). Chinese softwood lumber imports from Ukraine fell by 41% to 76,000 m³, while those from Chile halved as well (-50%), reaching a total of only 54,000 m³.

Data are collected by China Customs Statistics. As always, you can find more detailed data in our Datacube.