60% of all European softwood log shipments to China come from Germany, which has become the new shooting star in the Far Eastern country. Due to the accumulation of damaged wood, German shipments rocketed by 205% in the first six months to 2.8 million m³. This makes Germany the second most important supplying country after New Zealand.
The Czech Republic shipped nearly 1.4 million m³ (+147%) to China. All other European countries exported considerably less. Italy has been gaining ground lately with a volume of 39,000 m³ (+650%). Austria was an also-ran in the first six months with a quantity of 2,500 m³.
| in 1,000 m³ | |||
| Country | 1–6 2019 | 1–6 2020 | Diff. in % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 926 | 2,828 | 205 |
| Czech Republic | 557 | 1,377 | 147 |
| France | 102 | 201 | 96 |
| Poland | 188 | 116 | -38 |
| Belgium | 55 | 73 | 32 |
| Italy | 5 | 39 | 650 |
| Latvia | 74 | 38 | -48 |
| Lithuania | 77 | 31 | -60 |
| Slovakia | 47 | 26 | -44 |
| Slovenia | 9 | 25 | 178 |
| Denmark | 76 | 24 | -68 |
| Estonia | 18 | 13 | -29 |
| Switzerland | – | 9 | 100 |
| Romania | 6 | 4 | -27 |
| Austria | – | 3 | 100 |
| Belarus | – | 2 | 100 |
| Croatia | – | 1 | 100 |
| Sweden | 2 | 0.5 | -77 |
| Luxembourg | – | 0.4 | 100 |
| Norway | 9 | – | -100 |
| Portugal | 22 | – | -100 |
| Great Britain | – | – | – |
| Total | 2,174 | 4,811 | 121 |
New Zealand and Russia with much smaller volumes
Due to the lockdown in New Zealand, the Pacific island country lost ground in China: 6.2 million m³ correspond to a 26% decrease compared to the first half year of 2019.
Further restrictions in log exports and a mild winter made Russian log exports to China more difficult. In the first six months of this year, the country exported 2.2 million m³ (-32%).
| in 1,000 m³ | |||
| Country | 1–6 2019 | 1–6 2020 | Diff. in % |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 8,490 | 6,256 | -26 |
| Germany | 926 | 2,828 | 205 |
| Russia | 3,276 | 2,220 | -32 |
| Australia | 2,164 | 1,908 | -12 |
| Czech Republic | 557 | 1,377 | 147 |
| USA | 1,619 | 838 | -48 |
| Canada | 1,115 | 499 | -55 |
| Japan | 492 | 492 | 0 |
| France | 102 | 201 | 96 |
| Uruguay | 1,022 | 185 | -82 |
| Argentina | 142 | 180 | 27 |
| Poland | 188 | 116 | -38 |
| South Africa | 123 | 85 | -31 |
| Belgium | 55 | 73 | 32 |
| Chile | 138 | 66 | -52 |
| Italy | 5 | 39 | 650 |
| Latvia | 74 | 38 | -48 |
| Lithuania | 77 | 31 | -60 |
| Brazil | 110 | 27 | -76 |
| Slovakia | 47 | 26 | -44 |
| Slovenia | 9 | 25 | 178 |
| Other countries | 173 | 69 | -60 |
| Total | 20,904 | 17,579 | -16 |
