On September 5, under the clear blue skies and calm tides of early autumn, the Otago Bay, laden with over 53,000 cubic meters of radiata pine logs, slowly docked at Lanshan Port. Rizhao Customs promptly activated the "Timber Identification" intelligent recognition system, completing inspection and clearance efficiently.
Such scenes have become commonplace at Shandong Port's Rizhao Port. As a key hub along the Belt and Road Initiative, Rizhao Port leverages its strategic role as a gateway connecting domestic and international markets, providing a natural pathway for timber imports. In the first eight months of this year, Rizhao Port imported over 7 million cubic meters of logs, accounting for approximately one-third of China's total log imports. Despite a sluggish traditional construction timber market, the port has maintained growth momentum.
As one of China's largest log import hubs, Rizhao Port's sustained leadership in timber business is no coincidence. Beyond its unique port advantages, the deeper logic lies in transforming port resources into industrial dynamism: leveraging the port's hub status to open global timber supply channels while building an industrial ecosystem with advanced infrastructure and innovative services. This approach turns port "throughput" into industrial "value-add," laying a solid foundation for high-quality development of Rizhao's timber industry.
As a major timber handling hub in China, Rizhao Port's Lanshan Port Area operates six specialized timber berths and boasts the country's largest fumigation facility, with an annual capacity of 1 million cubic meters. Through the "Front Port, Rear Park" supply chain model, Rizhao Port collaborates with logistics groups, traders, and timber processors to create a new timber logistics channel: "global import - storage and fumigation - land (or inland waterway) logistics - park processing." This integrated approach offers customers efficient and convenient one-stop services.
With industrial upgrading, Rizhao has evolved from a key log import gateway to a fertile ground for deep timber processing.
What diverse marginal value can a single log unlock?
At Rizhao Jinghang Wood Products Co., Ltd. in Lanshan District, cultural creative wood products and solid wood furniture stand out: figurines inspired by classic foreign films, measuring just over ten centimeters, command prices nearing 400 yuan; wooden mosaics made from five types of solid wood easily sell for 152 yuan.
These finely crafted wood products not only transform "wood into gold" but also vividly reflect the robust growth of Lanshan's timber industry, showcasing Rizhao's efforts to extend and upgrade the industrial chain around this humble material.
As the core area of Rizhao's timber industry, Lanshan District capitalizes on its port advantages to cultivate a timber industrial cluster, shifting from low-end, primary processing to high-end, finished products. The district has formed four major industrial segments: primary processing, particleboard processing, furniture manufacturing (household products), and wood drying.
In the process of industrial upgrading, primary timber processors in Rizhao have proactively transformed, driving the extension of the timber industrial chain toward "deep processing and value-added products." To date, the city is home to 12 companies producing outdoor garden and ancient architecture materials, and over 30 furniture and home furnishing material suppliers. Meanwhile, initiatives like "enterprise collaboration and strengthening" have seen companies such as Jinghang Wood Products establish deep partnerships with renowned international brands like Sweden's IKEA, Denmark's Unik Furniture, and Yuanmu Language.
In terms of industrial scale, Rizhao boasts strong timber processing capabilities. Lanshan District alone hosts seven large centralized processing zones, with an annual processing capacity of 6 million cubic meters. For example, Rizhao Guantong Wood Industry has substantial processing capacity, precision sawing and drying 25,000 cubic meters of logs monthly, while producing 2,000 cubic meters of integrated wood and 2,000 cubic meters of decorative wood trim.
According to Zhuang Xinyun, Director of the Lanshan District Industry and Information Technology Bureau, the district's timber imports primarily come from New Zealand, Canada, Russia, and other countries, with radiata pine accounting for over 80%. Primary processed products include construction lumber, wood keels (structural framing), radiata pine children's furniture, solid wood furniture, and preservative-treated wood, forming a mature chain: "log import - sawing (processing) - drying - deep processing - comprehensive utilization of wood chips (firewood)." As of July, the district had 95 industrial enterprises above designated size in the timber sector, achieving an output value of 2.93 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.6%.
The rapid development of the timber industry has driven growth in related sectors such as port economy, storage and logistics, loading and unloading, transportation, catering, and leasing, fostering a complete industrial chain system encompassing log imports, deep processing, and finished product exports (while serving the domestic market).
Rizhao's exploration of the timber industry goes even further. For instance, Beikuo Town in Lanshan District, where timber processing companies cluster, aims to "build a national green and intelligent wood industry innovation cluster." Through initiatives like "strengthening and supplementing chains, innovation empowerment, digital transformation, and brand globalization," the town is promoting industrial upgrading, enhancing deep processing, cultivating high-quality enterprises, and striving to become a domestically leading green and intelligent timber industry demonstration base.
From September 4 to 6, the 2025 Global Wood and Wood Products Conference was held in Rizhao. This marks the third consecutive year Rizhao has hosted this global event, providing a platform for exchange, cooperation, and opportunity-seeking in the global timber industry while showcasing Rizhao's industrial strength and urban charm.
"Leveraging technological tools like the 'Timber Identification' intelligent system and facilitation measures such as 'two-step declaration' and 'scheduled inspection,' Rizhao Port saves significant time for enterprises, attracting domestic and international timber traders. This has spurred clustered development of timber processing industries in neighboring cities like Linyi, Weifang, and Lianyungang," said Chen Shigong, Deputy Director of Rizhao Customs. This year, Rizhao Port has imported 35 types of logs from 30 countries and regions, including New Zealand and Canada.
Thriving by the sea, advancing with green initiatives. With an open and innovative approach, Rizhao is writing a new chapter in the high-quality development of the timber industry, striding confidently toward its goal of becoming a "global timber trading center" and "timber processing hub."
