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Softwood lumber imports down by a fifth

Article by Jakob Wassermann (translated by Eva Guzely) | 27.07.2026 - 10:14

In the first half of this year, China reduced its softwood lumber imports by 21%. Deliveries from Russia, China’s number one supplier, decreased by 1.2 million m³.

According to figures published by China Customs Statistics, Chinese softwood lumber imports decreased by 21% to 5.8 million m³. This is the smallest volume since records began in 2017. Compared to the record year of 2019, imports were down by 56%.

Imports from Russia, China’s number one trading partner with a share of around two thirds, decreased by 23% to 4 million m³. A downward trend can also be observed in shipments from Belarus (-12% to 474,000 m³), Finland (-16% to 153,000 m³) and Sweden (-32% to 152,000 m³).

Meanwhile, bigger volumes were imported from Canada (+7% to 548,000 m³), New Zealand (+4% to 115,000 m³) and Uruguay (+23% to 67,000 m³).

85,000 m³ of softwood lumber, i.e. 19% less than last year, were purchased from Chile. Imports from Brazil (-55% to 56,000 m³) and the USA (-49% to 39,000 m³) fell by around half compared to last year.

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