China imported 32.769 million cubic metres of timber in the first half of the year, down 5.3 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to data recently released by China's General Administration of Customs. The trade value was $6.85 billion, down 5.1 per cent year-on-year.

Of this, the volume of timber imported in June 2024 was 4,919,000 cubic metres and the value of trade was US$1.08 billion. Compared to 5.99 million cubic metres in May 2024, this represents a 17.8 per cent drop from the previous year and a 13.7 per cent drop in trade value.

China's June 2024 sawn timber imports (2.695 million cubic metres) were 30% lower than the same period last year (3.837 million cubic metres).

Birch sawn timber (from Russia) decreased by 41% to 79.6 thousand cubic metres, and New Zealand radiata pine, which currently accounts for 46% of log imports, decreased by 27% from 1.71 million cubic metres to 1.255 million cubic metres.