Recent data from the General Administration of Customs reveals the finalized timber import figures for the first half of 2025, showing a sharp decline.
In June 2025, China imported 4.734 million cubic meters of logs and sawn timber, down 4.7% month-on-month and 3.8% year-on-year. This marks the fourth consecutive monthly year-on-year drop and the third straight monthly decline. However, the rate of decrease narrowed compared to the first five months of the year.
Log imports accounted for 59.8% of the total, reaching 2.83 million cubic meters-a 5.1% year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, sawn timber imports fell to 1.9 million cubic meters, down 14.5% year-on-year.
The broader picture for H1 2025 is even more striking. Total log and sawn timber imports amounted to 28.827 million cubic meters, a 12% drop compared to 32.768 million cubic meters in the same period last year-a reduction of nearly 4 million cubic meters. On average, this translates to 65,680 fewer cubic meters per month or 21,500 fewer per day.
Import values also declined, with total spending reaching approximately 41.74 billion yuan, down 14.3% year-on-year-an even steeper fall than the volume decrease.
China's timber imports are closely tied to the construction sector. With fewer new housing projects and cooling secondary market transactions, demand from developers, renovation firms, and furniture manufacturers has weakened, directly impacting imports. Additionally, economic uncertainties and unresolved U.S.-China trade tensions have made importers more cautious.
In summary, the steep drop in timber imports reflects the ongoing downturn in the real estate market. The "double decline" in both volume and value is unlikely to reverse soon, as timber imports remain heavily dependent on the property sector's performance. Industry consolidation appears inevitable during this period.
