In the first half year, China’s softwood sawn timber imports from Europe rose by 32% year on year to a total of 2.75 million m³. China bought more softwood sawn timber from nearly all European countries, with the exception of the main supplying country Finland, which shipped 524,000 m³, i.e. 17% less, to China in the first six months. The main reason for this decrease was the strike of Finnish sawmill workers at the beginning of the year.
Chinese imports from all other countries saw marked increases, particularly those from Sweden (484,000 m³; +50%), Ukraine (466,000 m³; +25%) or Germany (440,000 m³; +48%). Imports from Belarus more than doubled, reaching a total of 271,000 m³ (+147%).
81,000 m³ (+59%) of softwood sawn timber were imported from Austria. This is according to China Customs Statistics.
in 1.000 m³ | |||
Country | 1–6 2019 | 1–6 2020 | Diff. in % |
---|---|---|---|
Finland | 628 | 524 | -17% |
Sweden | 323 | 484 | 50% |
Ukraine | 374 | 466 | 25% |
Germany | 298 | 440 | 48% |
Belarus | 110 | 271 | 147% |
Latvia | 43 | 92 | 112% |
Austria | 51 | 81 | 59% |
Romania | 33 | 62 | 91% |
Estonia | 33 | 53 | 60% |
Lithuania | 15 | 31 | 109% |
Czech Republic | 8 | 21 | 154% |
Norway | 3 | 12 | 281% |
Poland | 1 | 8 | 522% |
Slovakia | 0 | 7 | 100% |
Spain | 6 | 6 | 0% |
Denmark | 7 | 5 | -25% |
Belgium | 3 | 4 | 45% |
Slovenia | 0.1 | 0.7 | 412% |
Croatia | 0.3 | 0.2 | -17% |
Switzerland | 0.5 | 0.2 | -63% |
Great Britain | 1.4 | 0.1 | -94% |
Netherlands | 0.3 | 0 | -95% |
France | 1 | 0 | -100% |
Total | 1,939 | 2,568 | 32% |
China’s biggest softwood sawn timber supplier is neighboring Russia from where 7.6 million m³ arrived in the first half year. This corresponds to a year-on-year decrease of 12%. A considerably lower volume was bought from Canada (1.6 million m³; -39%).
In the first half year, China’s overall softwood sawn timber imports amounted to nearly 12.7 million m³ (-10%).
in 1.000 m³ | |||
Country | 1–6 2019 | 1–6 2020 | Diff. in % |
---|---|---|---|
Russian Federation | 8,670 | 7,625 | -12% |
Canada | 2,572 | 1,580 | -39% |
Finland | 628 | 524 | -17% |
Schweden | 323 | 484 | 50% |
Ukraine | 374 | 466 | 25% |
Germany | 298 | 440 | 48% |
Chile | 305 | 280 | -8% |
Belarus | 110 | 271 | 147% |
USA | 172 | 164 | -5% |
Brazil | 131 | 141 | 7% |
New Zealand | 161 | 140 | -13% |
Latvia | 43 | 92 | 112% |
Austria | 51 | 81 | 59% |
Romania | 33 | 62 | 91% |
Uruguay | 49 | 57 | 17% |
Estonia | 33 | 53 | 60% |
Argentina | 66 | 50 | -23% |
Japan | 35 | 33 | -6% |
Lithuania | 15 | 31 | 109% |
Czech Republic | 8 | 21 | 154% |
Other countries | 42 | 63 | 49% |
Total | 14,121 | 12,660 | -10% |