China's fiberboard trade has demonstrated significant shifts in the first nine months of 2025, characterized by a sharp rise in exports and a notable change in import sources. According to the latest customs data, China's fiberboard export volume reached 2.62 million tons during this period, marking a substantial 35% increase year-on-year.
Major Export Markets See Robust Demand
This export growth has been primarily driven by strong demand from Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Vietnam has solidified its position as China's largest overseas market for fiberboard, with imports skyrocketing by 126% to 501,000 tons. Other key destinations, including Saudi Arabia, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada, also recorded double-digit import growth. In contrast, exports to the United States and Nigeria experienced a slowdown, declining by 9% and 1%, respectively. An industry report noted that growth across most of China's top seven markets has contributed to the overall export surge.
Import Dynamics Show Diverging Trends
On the import side, China's total fiberboard imports grew 16% year-on-year to 45,000 tons. The supplier landscape, however, has seen dramatic changes. Malaysia emerged as the fastest-growing source, with exports to China surging an extraordinary 683% to 1,400 tons. New Zealand remains the largest supplier overall, shipping 22,000 tons (a 95% increase). Meanwhile, traditional suppliers Thailand and Germany saw their exports to China decline by 26% and 20%, respectively.
Contrasting Performance in Furniture Sector
The positive momentum in fiberboard trade contrasts with ongoing challenges in China's wood furniture sector. For the first three quarters of 2025, China's wood furniture exports fell by 7% to $16.69 billion. Exports to the largest market, the United States, dropped sharply by 18% to $4.24 billion.
Exports to other major markets such as the United Kingdom ($1.2 billion) and Australia ($1.1 billion) remained stable. Malaysia stood out as a growing buyer, increasing its imports of Chinese wood furniture by 18% to $445 million.
Imports of wood furniture also declined by 6% to $461 million. Italy remained the top supplier, accounting for 46% of the import value, though its exports to China decreased by 9%. Imports from Germany, Vietnam, and France also fell, while smaller suppliers like Thailand, Slovakia, and Indonesia saw growth in their exports to the Chinese market.
The data highlights a period of reorientation in China's wood products trade, with fiberboard flows strengthening towards emerging markets while the furniture segment navigates headwinds in key traditional destinations.
