China's timber imports from the United States have experienced a dramatic decline during the first nine months of 2025, with volume dropping by 55.3% year-on-year to 1.1472 million cubic meters, according to the latest customs data. The total import value reached $700 million, representing a 43% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Price Surge Contrasts with Volume Collapse
Despite the sharp contraction in import volume, US timber has maintained a strong price position in the Chinese market. The average import price during the January-September period showed a significant increase of 27.3% year-on-year, indicating sustained demand for quality American timber despite regulatory challenges.
Biosecurity Measures Halt US Log Imports
The steep decline follows China's March 4 announcement suspending all US log imports after customs authorities detected quarantine pests, including bark beetles and longhorn beetles, in American timber shipments. The suspension was implemented under China's Biosecurity Law and Entry-Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine Law.
By June 2025, US log imports had effectively reached zero as previously placed orders were gradually cleared through Chinese ports. This structural shift has fundamentally reshaped timber trade dynamics between the two nations and created substantial challenges for the US timber industry.
US Industry Faces Mounting Pressure
The trade disruption has triggered significant repercussions across the US timber sector. Recently, speakers of the house from five southern states jointly petitioned Congress, urging the federal government to take immediate action to reopen Asian markets and alleviate growing pressure on the domestic timber industry.
The letter highlighted widespread operational challenges, noting that recent market changes, trade policy uncertainties, and regulatory barriers have forced multiple sawmills across the southern US to cease operations. Specifically, Georgia's timber supply chain has seen accelerated contraction with five sawmills recently halting production. Major closures include Georgia-Pacific's paper mill in Cedar Springs in late July and International Paper's planned shutdown of two pulp and paper mills in Riceboro and two processing plants in Savannah by September's end.
"The entire Southeastern US is witnessing a key industry facing compounded challenges from market shifts, non-tariff trade barriers, and global economic uncertainties," emphasized one state House Speaker in the petition.
Calls for Market Restoration
The bipartisan group of legislators has urgently requested the administration to "actively engage in trade negotiations to restore log and wood chip exports to Asian markets, including China." They emphasized that reopening these markets is "strategically crucial for effectively boosting demand for US forest products in the short term."
Market Outlook
With US log imports virtually disappearing from Chinese ports, America's role as a major log supplier to China has been temporarily suspended. The future of Sino-US timber trade depends on two critical factors: whether both nations can find a balance between regulatory compliance and market access through trade negotiations, and whether the US forestry sector can successfully develop alternative markets to adapt to the new trade landscape.
In the short term, the US timber industry continues to face restructuring challenges and operational uncertainties. Meanwhile, the Chinese market may experience supply tightness for certain wood species, potentially affecting price stability for North American wood products in the domestic spot market.
