FEA Update: China softwood log inventories

Friday 23 May 2025

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 3.52 million m³ on April 26th, 2025, down 8% (-318,000 m³) from late March, as follows:
  • Radiata pine log volumes from New Zealand and Australia amounted to 2.74 million m³, similar to a month before and comprising more than 78% of overall log inventories (versus 71% in late March).
  • North American Douglas-fir and hemlock log volumes totalled 334,000 m³, down 40% from a month before and comprising nearly 10% of overall log inventories (versus 14% in late March).
  • European spruce log volumes, at 202,000 m³, were down 31% from a month earlier and made up nearly 6% of overall log inventories.
  • Softwood log inventories from other countries (Japanese sugi, European red pine, etc.) totalled 245,000 m³ (-1%).
This month, the overall inventory count persisted in its downward trend. The decline was driven mainly by the destocking of North American logs and European spruce logs, while inventories of radiata pine remained relatively stable. Consequently, the proportion of radiata pine logs as a percentage of total softwood stocks grew from 71% at the end of March to 78% by the end of April.

Concentrated arrivals of radiata pine log vessels in Shandong have exerted pressure on sales prices. Meanwhile, continuous declines in arrivals of European spruce logs and North American logs have, to some extent, promoted a drop in inventories of logs from both regions.

China chart: Softwood log inventory at main ocean ports

In terms of overall sales, average daily sales volume reached just 63,625 m3 for the month, versus 72,500 m³ in April 2024 and 70,000 m3 in April 2023.

China chart: Softwood log average daily sales at ocean ports

For more information on FEA’s China Bulletin, where this data is reported monthly, please visit the China Bulletin.

Source: Forest Economic Advisors (FEA)


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