US Dollar Exchange Rates of
10th September
2019
China Yuan 7.1167
Report from China
Decline in log imports
China¡¯s log imports in the first half of 2019 totalled 29.56 million
cubic metres valued at US$5 billion, a year on year decline of 2% in
volume and 14% in value. The average price for imported logs was US$169
per cubic metre, a year on year drop of 12%.
Of total log imports, softwood log imports rose 5% to 21.06 million
cubic metres, accounting for 71% of the national total, one percentage
higher than in the same period in 2018. The average price for imported
softwood logs was US$135 per cubic metre, down 3% on levels in the first
half of 2018.
Hardwood log imports fell 16% to 8.50 million cubic metres in the first
half of 2019 and accounted for 29% of the national total, a 1% drop year
on year. The average price for imported hardwood logs was US$254 per
cubic metre, down 12% on levels in 2018.
Of total hardwood log imports, tropical log imports in the first half of
2019 totalled 3.84 million cubic metres, down 12% year on year and
accounted for 13% of the national total, a year on year decrease of 6%.
The value of tropical log imports in the first half of 2019 was US$1.27
billion reflecting a 25% decline year on year.
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First half tropical log imports plunge
Before its log export ban, Myanmar was a major source of
tropical logs for China. However, China¡¯s log imports from Myanmar in
the first half of 2019 fell to just 6,865 cubic metres valued at US$8.4
million, down year on year by 36% in volume and 44% in value.
The average price for imported logs from Myanmar in the first half of
2019 was US$1,224 per cubic metre, down 10% year on year.
The average price for imported tropical logs in the first half of 2019
was US$330 per cubic metre, a year on year rise of 6%. China imported
tropical logs mainly from Papua New Guinea (27%), Solomon Islands (23%),
Equatorial Guinea (14%), the Republic of Congo (9%) and Cameroon (7%).
Just 10 countries supplied 90% of China¡¯s tropical log requirements in
the first half of 2019.
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Tropical log imports from Gambia and the Republic of Congo surged 344% and
61% respectively. Countries from which tropical log imports declined
greatly included Mozambique (-42%), Sierra Leone (-32%), Cameroon
(-21%), Ghana (-19%) and Suriname (-16%).
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Plywood exports to US plunge ¨C sharp rise in exports to Uzbekistan
In the first half of 2019 the volume of China¡¯s plywood exports
came to 5.07 million cubic metres valued at US$2.23 billion, a year on
year decline of 9% and 17% respectively.
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The markets for China¡¯s plywood exports are very varied. The top 10 export
markets accounted for just 50% of total exports in the first half of
2019.
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The volume of China¡¯s plywood first half 2019 export to the US dropped by
61% year on year to 283,000 cubic metres. In contrast the volume of
China¡¯s plywood export to Uzbekistan surged to 140,000 cubic metres.
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