China's log imports in 2023 totalled 38.03 million cubic metres, valued at $6.383 billion, a 13% year-on-year decline in volume and a 25% year-on-year decline in value, according to Chinese customs data.

The average price of imported logs was $168 (CIF) per cubic metre, down 14% year-on-year from the level in 2022.

In terms of species:

Coniferous log imports fell 10% to 28.1 million cubic metres, accounting for 74% of the country's total and up 3% from 2022; the average price of imported coniferous logs was US$134 (CIF) per cubic metre, down 16% from 2022 levels.

Hardwood log imports fell 20% to 9.93 million cubic metres, accounting for 26% of the country's total log imports The average price was US$264 per cubic metre (CIF), down 7% from 2022.

Of the total hardwood log imports, tropical log imports were 5.71 million cubic metres valued at US$1.516 billion, an 8 per cent decline in volume and a 19 per cent decline in value from 2022, accounting for 15 per cent of the country's total imports in 2023; the import price was US$265 per cubic metre (CIF), a 12 per cent decline from 2022.

Country-wise:

China's log imports from Germany and Russia fell sharply in 2023, down as much as 40% and 27% year-on-year, to 3.59 million cubic metres and 1.61 million cubic metres annually, respectively.

New Zealand tops the list

China's log imports from New Zealand accounted for 47 per cent of the country's total log imports in 2023, up 6 per cent from 2022.

Imports reached nearly 18 million cubic metres, with a value of $2.209 billion, a 2% increase in volume but an 18% decrease in value.

The average price was $123 per cubic metre (CIF), down 19% from 2022.

Germany ranks second

China ranked second in terms of log imports from Germany in 2023, accounting for 9 per cent of the country's total, down 5 per cent from 2022.

Imports reached 3.3 million cubic metres at a value of US$576 million, a 40% year-on-year decline in volume and a 44% year-on-year decline in value.

The average price was $160 per cubic metre (CIF), down 7% from 2022.

Russia ranks fifth

China imported only 1.61 million cubic metres of logs from Russia in 2023, accounting for 4.2% of the country's total log imports, down as much as 27% year-on-year.