In the first nine months, China imported a total of around 32.12 million m³ which corresponds to a decrease of 0.4% or 128,000 m³. This is according to data by China Customs Statistics.
New Zealand is China’s main softwood log supplier. Until the end of September, 11.15 million m³, i.e. 14% less compared to last year, were bought from the country. Germany has become the number two supplier: With 5.77 million m³, China’s imports from Germany increased by 191% year on year. Purchases from Russia, on the other hand, fell by 26% to 3.43 million m³. Australia (3.34 million m³; +6%) and the Czech Republic (2.38 million m³; +91%) are in fourth and fifth place, respectively. From January to September, China bought 27.89 million m³ of softwood logs from these five countries. This is 87% of the overall volume.
Around 30% of the softwood logs imported by China came from Europe. With 9.31 million m³ (+104%) in the first nine months, the volume doubled compared to the same period of last year. A total of 8.1 million m³ of softwood logs were imported from Germany and the Czech Republic (87% of the overall volume bought from Europe). While imports from France (427,000 m³; +99%), Belgium (145,000 m³; +62%) or Italy (91,000 m³; +187%) saw strong increases, those from Poland (187,000 m³; -45%), Latvia (75,000 m³; -41%) or Slovakia (53,000 m³; -51%) decreased considerably. According to China Customs Statistics, China imported 3000 m³ of softwood logs from Austria in the first nine months of 2020.
| in 1,000 m³ | |||
| Country | 1–9 2019 | 1–9 2020 | Diff. in % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 1,981 | 5,766 | 191 |
| Czech Republic | 1,246 | 2,375 | 91 |
| France | 215 | 427 | 99 |
| Poland | 342 | 187 | –45 |
| Belgium | 89 | 145 | 62 |
| Italy | 32 | 91 | 187 |
| Latvia | 127 | 75 | –41 |
| Slovakia | 107 | 53 | –51 |
| Denmark | 136 | 47 | –66 |
| Lithuania | 155 | 47 | –70 |
| Slovenia | 42 | 43 | 3 |
| Estonia | 31 | 19 | –40 |
| Romania | 7 | 15 | 100 |
| Switzerland | 2 | 9 | 262 |
| Croatia | 7 | 3 | –52 |
| Norway | 9 | 3 | –60 |
| Luxembourg | – | 3 | 100 |
| Austria | – | 3 | 100 |
| Belarus | – | 2 | 100 |
| Sweden | 4 | 1 | –75 |
| Portugal | 29 | – | –100 |
| Great Britain | – | – | – |
| Total | 4,570 | 9,313 | 104 |
| in 1,000 m³ | |||
| Country | 1–9 2019 | 1–9 2020 | Diff. in % |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 13,007 | 11,148 | –14 |
| Germany | 1,981 | 5,766 | 191 |
| Russia | 4,637 | 3,434 | –26 |
| Australia | 3,135 | 3,339 | 6 |
| Czech Republic | 1,246 | 2,375 | 91 |
| USA | 2,468 | 1,830 | –26 |
| Canada | 1,718 | 874 | –49 |
| Japan | 693 | 821 | 19 |
| Uruguay | 1,211 | 686 | –43 |
| France | 215 | 427 | 99 |
| Argentina | 233 | 306 | 31 |
| Poland | 342 | 187 | –45 |
| South Africa | 190 | 176 | –7 |
| Belgium | 89 | 145 | 62 |
| Italy | 32 | 91 | 187 |
| Chile | 194 | 90 | –54 |
| Brazil | 145 | 84 | –42 |
| Latvia | 127 | 75 | –41 |
| Slovakia | 107 | 53 | –51 |
| Denmark | 136 | 47 | –66 |
| Lithuania | 155 | 47 | –70 |
| Other countries | 182 | 114 | –37 |
| Total | 32,243 | 32,115 | –0,4 |
