FEA update: Chia softwood log inventories [Int]

Friday 11 Sep 2026

China’s Softwood Log Inventories at Ocean Ports – FEA industry sources in China report that softwood log inventories at the country’s main ocean ports totalled 2.59 million m³ on August 28, 2026, down 5.4% (-147,000 m³) from late July, as follows:
  • Radiata pine log volumes from New Zealand and Australia amounted to 1.94 million m³, down 7.3% from late July and comprising approximately 75% of overall log inventories (versus 76% in late July).
  • North American Douglas-fir and hemlock log volumes reached 373,000 m³, down 0.3% from a month prior and comprising nearly 14% of overall log inventories (similar to late July).
  • European spruce log volumes, at 129,000 m³, up 9.3% from a month earlier, making up ~5% of overall log inventories.
  • Softwood logs shipped from other countries (Japanese sugi, European red pine, etc.) totalled 147,000 m³ (-3.3%).
In the first seven months of 2026, per statistics released by China Customs, Chinese softwood log imports amounted to ~13.8 million m³, a decline of 4% versus the same period of 2025. New Zealand shipments to China edged down 2% over the same period. Meanwhile, shipments from Canada and the US recorded increases of 8% and 72%, respectively, while shipments from Europe recorded a further decrease of 34% year-over-year.

National log inventories declined overall in August, marked by a rapid decrease of 24% in Taicang but a slight decline of 1% in Lanshan. Given the overall low inventory and higher CIF prices offered by suppliers in late August versus late July, wholesale market prices for radiata pine logs (middle A, 3.9 meters) showed upward trends of RMB 30/m³ in Taicang and RMB 10/m³ in Lanshan. Conversely, over the same timeframe, wholesale market price for hemlock logs saw a decline of RMB 20/m³ in Taicang and growth of RMB 10/m³ in Lanshan.

Based on current market conditions, the wholesale market price of radiata pine logs is projected to rise modestly over the next month.

China: Softwood log inventory at main ocean ports

In terms of overall sales, the average daily volume was estimated at 51,625 m³ in August; this is versus 55,200 m³ in August 2025 and 58,125 m³ in August 2024.


For more information on FEA’s Asia Bulletin where this data is reported monthly, please visit https://getfea.com/publication/asia-bulletin or contact Matt Robertson at mrobertson@getfea.com.

Source & chart credit: Forest Economic Advisors


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