Is China still Australia's main trading partner for timber?Friday 14 Nov 2025
On the import side, the trend also reflects volatility. After falling from its peak in 2022, imports have rebounded, with 2025 figures showing an upward movement with a total value of $2.7 billion. This growth highlights the continued demand for wood-based materials in the domestic market, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors. China continues as Australia’s dominant trading partner for wood products, reflecting its role across other commodities. The composition of trade is also distinct – key Australian exports to China include broadleaved hardwood logs, roundwood, and builders’ joinery, while imports from China to Australia are largely manufactured wood products such as plywood, veneer, MDF, and particleboard. Export to China compared to all other countries Before the pandemic, Australia’s export value of wood products to China consistently represented around 25% of total wood product exports, averaging between $550 million and $600 million per year. This share reflected China’s importance as a major and stable market for Australian forestry products. However, from 2022 to 2024, exports to China declined sharply. During this period, the share of exports to China fell to as low as 1–4% of total wood product exports, representing a significant shift in the trade relationship. The latest figures for FY2025 indicate a substantial recovery. Exports to China rebounded to $170 million, accounting for 10% of Australia’s total wood product exports. While this remains well below pre-pandemic levels, the recovery signals renewed demand and an improving trade dynamic with China. Table 1 and Figure 1 provide a detailed view of Australia’s wood product exports to China over the past decade, illustrating both the long-term fluctuations and the more recent rebound.  Sources: ABS, ABARES, S&P Global, FWPA analysis Import from China compared to all other countries While the total import value of wood products has fluctuated over the past decade, the proportion from China has shown a steady upward trend. Prior to the pandemic, China accounted for around 20% of Australia’s wood product imports. In the last financial year, this share had increased to 27%. In terms of overall value, total imports declined significantly between 2022 and 2024, falling from $3.2 billion to $2.6 billion. Despite this decline, China’s share of imports continued to rise, moving from 22% to 25% over the same period. Import activity rebounded in the 2025 financial year, with total values increasing by 3.2%, from $2.6 billion in 2024 to $2.7 billion in 2025. More >> Source: FPWA | ||
Copyright 2004-2025 © Innovatek Ltd. All rights reserved. |
