Log import volumes to China typically increase in the month of March every year, and 2015 was no exception with a 76% percent jump from the previous month. The softwood log imports reached 2.9 million cubic meters. This is the highest monthly volume since early in 2014, and incidentally, is also higher than the monthly average over the past two years, as reported in the upcoming issue of the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ), Seattle, Wash., USA.

With the Russian ruble falling in value by more than 50% over the past six months, there were expectations by some market observers that Russian exporters would increase their export volumes substantially in 2015, but that has not yet happened. In the first quarter of 2015, Russia actually exported fewer softwood logs to China than in the previous quarter, and comparatively, shipments were almost 15% below the 1Q/2014.

As indicated in the latest issue of the WRQ, there are numerous obstacles to Russian log exporters increasing export volumes in the short-term. These include inadequate ability to promptly increase timber harvests when opportunities arise, limited access to logging equipment, insufficient infrastructure, lack of loggers and truckers, and logistical bottle necks in the entire supply chain from the forests to the ports. As a consequence, many logging companies and sawmills have had difficulty taking advantage of the improved export market opportunities so far.

Rather than a surge in softwood logs from Russia entering the Chinese market, log exporters in New Zealand and Australia increased their shipments by 250% and 165%, respectively, from February to March. Combined, the two countries supplied more than 50% of Chinese log imports in March, a record high share for the Oceanian log exporters.

While log import volumes to China surged in March, prices did not. The average import price was actually at the lowest level since 2010. Prices for imported softwood logs have trended downward for almost a year and were in March of this year 15% lower than in March of 2014. North American logs have the highest costs, while Australia and New Zealand are on the lower end of the cost scale.

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