KUCHING: China imported fewer tropical, hardwood and softwood logs in the first six months of 2026 as higher prices, particularly for tropical and softwood logs, weighed on demand.
Between January and June 2026, China imported about 15.88 million cubic metres (cu m) of logs worth US$2.67 billion, down five per cent in volume and one per cent in value compared with the same period last year.
According to China Customs data, the average import price rose five per cent year on year to US$169 cost, insurance and freight (CIF) per cu m.
Softwood logs continued to dominate imports, accounting for 73 per cent of the total at 11.66 million cu m. Import volume fell five per cent, while the average price increased six per cent to US$125 CIF per cu m.
Hardwood log imports also declined five per cent to 4.22 million cu m, representing 27 per cent of total imports. However, the average import price for hardwood logs fell nine per cent year on year to US$287 CIF per cu m.
The International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO), in its Tropical Timber Market Report for July 16 to 31, 2026, said tropical log imports totalled 2.16 million cu m valued at US$527 million CIF, down six per cent in volume and five per cent in value compared with the first half of 2025.
Tropical logs accounted for 14 per cent of China’s total log import volume, broadly unchanged from the corresponding period last year.
Lower imports from Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Solomon Islands contributed significantly to the overall decline in tropical log imports. Shipments from PNG fell five per cent to 840,000 cu m, while imports from the Solomon Islands dropped 11 per cent to 573,000 cu m.
In contrast, imports from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cameroon and the Republic of Congo increased by 32 per cent, eight per cent and 79 per cent respectively.
Equatorial Guinea recorded the fastest growth, with exports to China surging 158 per cent to 16,000 cu m valued at US$5 million.
China also increased log imports from the United States by 20 per cent to 491,000 cu m worth US$250 million, a 29 per cent rise in value compared with the first half of 2025.
New Zealand remained China’s largest log supplier despite shipments easing three per cent to 8.99 million cu m valued at US$1.07 billion.
Meanwhile, imports from Russia declined 19 per cent to 637,000 cu m, France fell four per cent to 315,000 cu m, and Australia dropped five per cent to 245,000 cu m. Imports from Germany recorded the steepest decline, plunging 54 per cent to 229,000 cu m, with import value falling 41 per cent to US$61 million.
On the other hand, China raised log imports from Japan, its second largest supplier, by two per cent to 900,000 cu m worth US$113 million. Imports from Canada rose four per cent to 649,000 cu m valued at US$137 million, while shipments from Latvia increased nine per cent to 317,000 cu m worth US$42 million.
The ITTO said China’s log imports from Japan had continued to grow since 2022 due to the country’s proximity and the strong demand among Chinese consumers for high quality Japanese softwood logs.
The report noted that all 637,000 cu m of logs imported from Russia during the first half of 2026 comprised hardwood, with no softwood logs imported.
It attributed the shift to Russia’s ban on softwood log exports, introduced in 2022 to encourage domestic processing, support its sawn timber and wood based panel industries, and increase value added production.
Historically, Russia was a major supplier of softwood logs to China, but exports ceased following the policy change.
“The largest end use in China for milled softwood logs is construction formwork, civil engineering works, concrete formwork and some home decoration. As domestic housing starts are at a low level, demand for sawlogs has fallen,” the report said.
“To meet the weaker demand for softwood products, companies are either importing Russian sawn timber or investing in processing facilities in Russia before exporting sawn timber to China.
“As countries limit log exports, timber buyers in China are diversifying supply sources. Purchases of softwood logs have shifted to New Zealand, Canada and Japan.”
