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China achieves first trade surplus in forest products
As the foreign trade of China’s forest products developed
rapidly in recent years, the country recorded its first trade
surplus in 2005. According to China Customs, the total
value of foreign trade in national forest products was
US$38.32 billion in 2005, up 18.5% from 2004. This
accounted for 43% of the forestry industry’s total output.
Exports climbed 29.4% to over US$20 billion while
imports rose at a slower rate (7.9%) to $17.63 billion,
thereby recording for the first time ever a trade surplus of
US$3.06 billion in 2005.
Local experts think that a continuous and rapid growth in
foreign trade of forest products have not only enabled
Chinese products to become more competitive
internationally but also helped upgrade forestry industry
and promote the comprehensive development of the
forest sector. Exports of forest products have become a
major revenue source for some local governments,
boosting farmers’ income and creating jobs. Furthermo re,
the increasing demand for raw materials has stimulated
the expansion of forest plantations.
Wooden furniture remains the top exported product and
continuous to grow rapidly. It is followed by paper,
paperboard, wood products, plywood, and rattan, straw
and reed products. The exports of plywood and
fibreboard continued to expand but those of veneer and
chipboard remained in decline. With regards to imports,
log imports reached 29.37 million m3 ($3.24 billion) in
2005, up 12% in volume and 16%% in value. Sawnwood
imports stood at 6.05 million m3, same as in 2004 but up
9% in value. The imports of wood-based panel (plywood,
fiberboard and particle board) declined drastically. Wood
pulp, waste paper, paper, paperboard and paper products
remained the largest imported items at $11 billion, up
6.7% from 2004.
The total Shenzhen furniture export value, up 50% from
2004.
New production base boosts Jiangsu as plywood hub
A large plywood production base is being built in Jiangsu
Province at a total investment of $29.8 million. The
plywood base consists of 17 hectares, 100,000 m2 of built
areas and an expected annual production capacity of
800,000 m3. Around 98% of the output will be for the
export market with sales expected at about $200 million
per year. The base is expected to be completed by July
2007.
Boom time for plywood exports through Jiangsu
According to Jiangsu Customs, plywood exports through
Jiangsu Port totaled 2.34 million m3 ($590 million) in
2005, up 38% in volume and 54% in value. The average
plywood price was $253.7 per m3, up 11% from 2004.
Local experts say that the boom is due to competitiveness
of local firms and greater export volumes before the
implementation of an export refund tax.
Hefty rise in furniture exports through Shenzhen
The value of furniture exports through Shenzhen Port
rose 33.6% to $2.93 billion in 2005. Chinese furniture
exports come predominantly from the Pearl River and
Yangtze River Deltas, with Shenzhen Port accounting for
20% of the country’s furniture exports. Shenzhen’s
furniture exports went mainly to the USA ($1.2 billion,
up 37% from 2004) and the EU ($420 million, up 55%).