From January to December 2024, China's total timber imports (measured in log volume equivalent) reached 74.06 million cubic meters, a year-on-year decrease of 4.4%, with an import value of US$13.02 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 1.53%.

Among these, China's log imports amounted to 36.098 million cubic meters, a year-on-year decrease of 5.1%, with an import value of US$6.16 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 3.5%. Sawnwood imports reached 26.734 million cubic meters, a year-on-year decrease of 3.8%, with an import value of US$6.86 billion, a year-on-year increase of 0.3%.

The average import prices for logs and sawnwood in China remained stable in 2024. Compared with 2023, the average import prices for softwood sawnwood, hardwood logs, and hardwood sawnwood saw slight increases, while the average import price for softwood logs experienced a slight decrease.

1. Softwood Log Imports

From January to December 2024, China's softwood log imports reached 26.116 million cubic meters, a year-on-year decrease of 7.1%, with an average import price of US$130.1 per cubic meter, a year-on-year decrease of 2.9%.

In 2024, the main softwood log species imported by China included radiata pine, white pine, Douglas fir, Korean pine, and Scots pine. Among these, radiata pine log imports reached 17.432 million cubic meters, a year-on-year increase of 1.31%, accounting for 48.3% of total log imports.

In 2024, China's main sources of softwood log imports included New Zealand, Japan, the United States, Canada, Germany, and Poland. New Zealand was China's most important supplier of softwood logs, with imports from New Zealand accounting for 68.3% of China's total softwood log imports.

2. Hardwood Log Imports

From January to December 2024, China's hardwood log imports reached 9.982 million cubic meters, a year-on-year increase of 0.6%, with an average import price of US$277.0 per cubic meter, a year-on-year increase of 4.96%.

In 2024, the main hardwood log species imported by China included oak, North American hardwoods, beech, okoume, and meranti.

In 2024, China's main sources of hardwood log imports included Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Russia, the United States, the Republic of Congo, France, Brazil, Germany, and Cameroon. Hardwood log imports from Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Russia together accounted for more than half of total hardwood log imports, representing 20.7%, 15.7%, and 14.4%, respectively.

3. Softwood Sawnwood Imports

From January to December 2024, China's softwood sawnwood imports reached 17.991 million cubic meters, a year-on-year decrease of 7.1%, with an average import price of US$203.6 per cubic meter, a year-on-year increase of 3.8%.

In 2024, the main softwood sawnwood species imported by China were spruce, Korean pine, and Scots pine, followed by radiata pine and Douglas fir.

In 2024, China's main sources of softwood sawnwood imports included Russia, Canada, Belarus, and Finland. Russia was China's largest supplier of softwood sawnwood, accounting for 67.6% of the total.

4. Hardwood Sawnwood Imports

From January to December 2024, China's hardwood sawnwood imports reached 10.106 million cubic meters, a year-on-year increase of 3.3%, with an average import price of US$343.9 per cubic meter, a year-on-year increase of 1.6%.

In 2024, the main hardwood sawnwood species imported by China included oak, beech, ash, and North American hardwoods.

In 2024, Thailand was China's largest supplier of hardwood sawnwood, accounting for 48.6% of the total, followed by Russia and the United States, with shares of 9.7% and 9.6%, respectively.