New Zealand forest sector depends on the Chinese marketFriday 9 May 2025 The New Zealand forest sector depends on the Chinese market to consume much of its log production. Other suppliers also rely on China as an important export destination. However, in recent years, both supply constraints and weakening Chinese demand have reshaped the competitive landscape for softwood log imports. Several key exporters faced supply constraints. European log production fell after 2022 after a surge in salvage harvesting of beetle-damaged trees. Russia imposed a ban on log exports in the same year, and both Canada and the United States redirected their logs to meet domestic demand. These developments contributed to China experiencing a 41.6% decline in softwood log imports between 2019 and 2024. As supply from other countries contracted, New Zealand’s market share grew —from 40% in 2019 to 68% in 2024—positioning it as the premier softwood log supplier to China. However, this did not translate into a dominant market position, particularly when viewed in the broader context of China’s softwood log and lumber imports. More >> Source & chart credit: Alphametrik |
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