China: Wood Timber Market News
¡¾2002.07.08¡¿

Mr. Lei Jiafu, Deputy Director of the State Forestry Administration, remarked recently that, in his opinion, China's Natural Forest Protection Project programme will only have a minor impact on timber production if viewed over a decade.

This is because the State will also implement projects to establish fast-growing and high-yielding forest plantations. According to current plans, the State will establish 13.33 million hectares of commercial forests in 18 provinces. It is projected that these forests will supply 130 million cubic metres annually bringing into balance demand and supply. What will change, of course, is the type of raw material that is available.

At present, an average of some 370 million cubic metres of forest resources is consumed annually in China and about 40% is supplied from plantations. The State plans that the amount of timber supplied by plantations will go up to 70%. In recent years, some 70 million cubic metres (log equivalent) of various forest products, including logs, sawntimber, plywood, veneer, pulp, paper and paperboard have been imported. At the end of the next decade China's log and sawnwood imports are projected to be only around 20 million cubic metres and will stabilise at this level said Mr. Lei.

US Hardwood Export to China

It is reported that the United States will shift the focus of hardwood exports from Europe to China where imports of American hardwood in 2001 rose to US$212 million. To aid this development the AHEC office in Shanghai will be expanded.

Since its first entry into the Asian markets in 1992, American hardwood export values to Asia have risen steadily. US hardwood exports to China alone in 2001 increased by 9.3% over the previous year. With the vigorous growth of China's economy and the market's appreciation of American hardwood, AHEC has expanded its promotion to the Chinese market.

News in Brief

China's construction sector is offering new opportunities said Minister Wan Guangtao of the Ministry of Construction. He is reported as saying that as China's urbanization level was only 37.7% at present urbanization will continue into the future. According to the State's development estimates large numbers of agricultural workers will relocate to urban areas.

It is estimated that the urban population is swelling by fourteen million annually at present. It is expected that, in addition to the major cities, a number of medium and small cities will develop quickly. In the immediate future China's economy is forecast to grow steadily at a rate of some 7%.

Poland is encouraging timber export to China. The Polish premier and ex-ambassador to China, pointed out recently that Poland's exports to China in the first quarter of this year amounted to US$45 million, an increase of 4% over the same period last year. He said that there are great opportunities for Polish medium and small enterprises to export high value timbers such as oak and beech for furniture manufacturing to China.

For information on China's forestry try:
http://www.forestry.ac.cn/