In the first six months of 2024, imports totaled 392,700 m³ and were thus 48,200 m³ below the current level.
According to China Customs Statistics, Chinese imports of German beech logs amounted to 188,600 m³ in the first half of 2024. According to Destatis, Germany exported 185,700 m³ to China from January to May 2025 – a 10% decrease compared to the 2024 volume of 207,100 m³. Many German log exporters have withdrawn from the Chinese business early in the 2024/2025 hardwood season (See article Beech well below the €200/m³-mark in China).
In the first half of 2025, France delivered a stable 82,700 m³ of beech logs to China. Cumulatively, Germany and France account for 60% (268,000 m³) of total Chinese imports. In the first half of 2024, both countries delivered a total of 273,500 m³ to China, equivalent to 69% of overall imports.
From January to June, beech log imports from Slovakia increased by 269% to 51,500 m³, while those from the Czech Republic rose by 124% to 22,100 m³. 30,900 m³, i.e. 19% more, were purchased from Denmark. Imports from Belgium remained virtually unchanged at 34,600 m³ (-1%).
| Volumes in m³ | |||
| Country | 1-6 2024 | 1-6 2025 | Diff. in % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 188,587 | 183,230 | –3 |
| France | 82,936 | 82,732 | –0.2 |
| Slovakia | 13,938 | 51,474 | 269 |
| Belgium | 34,995 | 34,610 | –1 |
| Denmark | 25,919 | 30,888 | 19 |
| Czech Republic | 9,875 | 22,097 | 124 |
| Switzerland | 10,977 | 12,300 | 12 |
| Sweden | 5,025 | 9,248 | 84 |
| Slovenia | 6,723 | 5,482 | –18 |
| Poland | 6,380 | 4,429 | –31 |
| Other countries | 7,343 | 4,409 | –40 |
| Total | 392,698 | 440,899 | 12 |
