Fir and spruce logs account for 15% of China's total log imports4%。
According to the latest data released by China's customs, in the first 11 months of 2023, the import value of imported fir and spruce logs (including the minimum cross-sectional size of 15 cm and above and the minimum cross-sectional size of 15 cm and below) reached 586.2 billion yuan, a decrease of 3589%；The import volume reached 535980,000 cubic meters, down 3411%；The average import unit price was 1,100 yuan cubic meters, a slight decrease of 27%。
The import volume of fir and spruce logs, with a minimum cross-sectional size of 15 cm and above, reached 5.33 million cubic meters, a year-on-year decrease of 3364%；The import amount reached 583.2 billion yuan, a decrease of 3554%；
Fir and spruce logs, with a minimum cross-sectional size of 15 cm and below, are imported in quantities of 2920,000 cubic meters, down 71 percent year-on-year18%；The import value reached 30.27 million yuan, a decrease of 683%。
From the perspective of import sources, the import of fir and spruce logs is mainly in Europe, and 8 of the top 10 are European countries (the remaining two are the United States and Canada), accounting for 88 in total21%。Imports from the United States and Canada increased, while the rest declined to varying degrees.
Compared with January-November 2022, the import of fir and spruce logs from Europe in the same period in 2023 decreased by 3893% to 4.49 million cubic meters; The import value reached 4.7 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 4072%。
Germany has always ranked first in China's imports of fir and spruce logs, but in the first 11 months of 2023, imports of fir and spruce logs from Germany decreased by 44 percent year-on-year34% to 2.67 million cubic meters, accounting for 49% of total imports of fir and spruce logs85%, the import value reached 2.8 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 4569%, accounting for 48% of total imports5%。
Among the top 10 countries, Poland had the highest increase in imports, reaching 15554%；Imports of fir and spruce logs from the United States and Canada increased by 386% to 600,000 cubic meters, but the import value fell by 885%。
Due to the low imports of fir and spruce logs from Norway and Italy in the same period of 2022, imports from Norway and Italy increased significantly in the first 11 months of 2023, reaching 42,504 cubic meters (+948.), respectively96%) and 8570 cubic meters (+917.).81%）。
Spruce, hemlock and pine sawn timber accounted for 35% of China's total sawn timber imports51%。
From January to November 2023, a total of 711 spruce sawn timber was imported across the country540,000 cubic meters, an increase of 942%；The import value amounted to 975.7 billion yuan, down 635%；The average import unit price was 1,370 yuan cubic meters, down 14 percent from the average unit price in the same period last year41%。
From the perspective of import sources, the top 10 largest imports of spruce sawn timber are all from Europe, accounting for 99% in total.
Russia ranks first in China's spruce sawn timber imports. In the first 11 months of 2023, spruce sawn timber imports from Russia increased by 364% to 4.92 million cubic meters, accounting for 69% of the total spruce sawn timber imports2%, the import value reached 6.7 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 865%, accounting for 69% of total imports31%。Among the top 10 countries, Belarus has the highest increase in imports, reaching 11548%。
From January to November 2023, a total of 29 hemlock sawn timber was imported170,000 cubic meters, an increase of 751%；The import amount amounted to 3800 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 1565%；The average import unit price was 1,310 cubic meters, down 21 percent from the average unit price in the same period last year54%。
From January to November 2023, a total of 61 pine sawn timber were imported950,000 cubic meters, an increase of 16 compared with the same period last year31%；The import amount amounted to 6500 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 1855%；The average import unit price was 1065 yuan cubic meters, down 29 percent from the average unit price in the same period last year97%。
On the whole, the import performance of spruce logs has declined in the past two years, and there will be a cliff in the second half of 2023. The performance of spruce sawn timber in the first half of the year was relatively stable, and imports continued to decline until August. But overall, the imports of spruce, hemlock and pine sawn timber in 2023 are bullish compared with the previous year, but close to two to three percent.