In five months, Germany exported nearly 2,3 million m³, which is a year-on-year increase of 211%, according to Chinese Customs. The Czech Republic saw a similarly positive development with exports rising by 164% to 1.1 million m³.
As China’s third most important European supplier, France also recorded a doubling of shipments to 170,000 m³.
After storm Vaia hit Italy, the country planned to increase its exports to China but did not succeed in doing so. In the first five months of 2020, around 30,000 m³ were sold to China (2019: 4000 m³).
Apparently, Austria did not ship log wood to China in May. Exports remain on a modest 3000 m³.
The European export flood can be explained with the accumulation of enormous volumes of damaged wood. However, the fact that the export flow was not interrupted even by a shortage in containers and a rise in related costs, is remarkable.
in 1,000 m³ | |||
Country | 1–5 2019 | 1–5 2020 | Diff. in % |
---|---|---|---|
Germany | 736 | 2,292 | 211 |
Czech Republic | 413 | 1,091 | 164 |
France | 80 | 166 | 109 |
Poland | 154 | 90 | –41 |
Belgium | 44 | 57 | 29 |
Latvia | 60 | 32 | –46 |
Italy | 4 | 29 | 587 |
Slovakia | 34 | 24 | –28 |
Lithuania | 55 | 24 | –56 |
Slovenia | 4 | 21 | 407 |
Denmark | 65 | 17 | –74 |
Estonia | 15 | 12 | –20 |
Switzerland | – | 9 | 100 |
Romania | 5 | 4 | –23 |
Austria | – | 3 | 100 |
Belarus | – | 2 | 100 |
Sweden | 2 | 0,5 | –78 |
Luxembourg | – | 0,4 | 100 |
Croatia | – | 0,2 | 100 |
Norway | 6 | – | –100 |
Portugal | 19 | – | –100 |
Great Britain | – | – | – |
Total | 1,697 | 3,874 | 128 |
New Zealand and Russia with losses
The lockdown in New Zealand might be one reason for the 30% decrease in shipments to China. However, with 5.1 million m³ the country is still far behind the no. 1 supplier. In the case of Russia, which exported only 450,000 m³ to China in the first five months of 2020, the main reason was the mild winter which hindered the log harvest.
For more information on the situation in China, please read this analysis as well.
in 1,000 m³ | |||
Country | 1–5 2019 | 1–5 2020 | Diff. in % |
---|---|---|---|
New Zealand | 7,261 | 5,182 | –29 |
Germany | 736 | 2,292 | 211 |
Russia | 2,779 | 1,748 | –37 |
Australia | 1,826 | 1,503 | –18 |
Czech Republic | 413 | 1,091 | 164 |
USA | 1,329 | 526 | –60 |
Japan | 410 | 380 | –7 |
Canada | 902 | 315 | –65 |
France | 80 | 166 | 109 |
Argentina | 125 | 148 | 18 |
Poland | 154 | 90 | –41 |
Uruguay | 855 | 79 | –91 |
South Africa | 102 | 66 | –35 |
Chile | 114 | 63 | –45 |
Belgium | 44 | 57 | 29 |
Latvia | 60 | 32 | –46 |
Italy | 4 | 29 | 587 |
Brazil | 85 | 27 | –68 |
Slovakia | 34 | 24 | –28 |
Lithuania | 55 | 24 | –56 |
Slovenia | 4 | 21 | 407 |
Other countries | 146 | 56 | –62 |
Total | 17,518 | 13,918 | –21 |