KUCHING: China’s imports of sawnwood recorded a double-digit decline in the first six months of 2025 following a slump in real estate and construction activities, impacting major supplying countries including Malaysia.
According to China Customs data cited by the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO), the country imported 12.15 million cubic metres of sawnwood worth about US$3.12 billion during the first half of the year. This represented a 13 per cent drop in both volume and value compared with the same period in 2024.
The average cost insurance and freight price slipped slightly to US$256 per cubic metre, down 0.2 per cent year on year.
The ITTO report said the decline was largely due to reduced demand from the construction sector and a seasonal slowdown during the rainy season across several provinces. Imports from most major suppliers including Russia registered a decline.
Of the total imports, sawn softwood accounted for 7.39 million cubic metres while sawn hardwood made up 4.77 million cubic metres, of which 3.42 million cubic metres were tropical sawnwood.
Sawn softwood imports fell 17 per cent, making up 61 per cent of total imports, while the average import price dropped 0.9 per cent to US$203 per cubic metre. Hardwood imports slid six per cent to 4.77 million cubic metres with prices easing three per cent to US$339 per cubic metre.
Tropical sawnwood imports declined seven per cent in volume and 12 per cent in value, totalling 3.42 million cubic metres valued at US$951 million. The average price dropped by five per cent to US$278 per cubic metre.
Thailand remained the top supplier but its shipments fell 11 per cent to 2.216 million cubic metres valued at US$571 million. This accounted for 65 per cent of China’s tropical sawnwood imports, down three percentage points from last year.
Malaysia’s exports to China were also hit, dropping 26 per cent to 48,000 cubic metres worth US$18 million. Other suppliers such as Gabon, Myanmar, Cameroon and Indonesia also saw declines.
In contrast, imports rose from the Philippines by 21 per cent, Vietnam by 52 per cent and the Republic of Congo by nine per cent. Papua New Guinea saw the sharpest increase, with shipments surging 343 per cent to 84,000 cubic metres worth US$25 million, making it the sixth largest supplier.
Despite a sharp reduction, Russia remained China’s largest supplier, though its share plunged to 47 per cent from 65 per cent a year earlier. Imports from Russia fell eight per cent to 5.746 million cubic metres, while Thailand, the second largest supplier, accounted for 18 per cent.
During the same period, imports from New Zealand grew 41 per cent to 110,000 cubic metres, while supplies from Belarus, Canada, Sweden, Finland and Brazil recorded declines.
