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8 MARKET BEATS SEP/OCT 2026 FDM ASIA | www.fdmasia.com

Overall Decline In Timber to 139,000 cubic metres, a year-over-year increase of 48.4

Exports percent, while the value rose by 28.6 percent, ranking among
the highest growth rates. With the current temporary easing
China’s exports of timber and timber products showed of US-China trade tensions, domestic demand for high-end
a downward trend hardwoods—particularly logs—has rebounded.
The latest customs data shows that in July 2026, China’s For Germany and France, Germany’s import volume

cumulative imports of logs and sawn timber totalled 4.705 plummeted by 38.9 percent, and the value decreased by
million cubic metres, marking a slight year-over-year increase 31.5 percent, primarily due to the removal of insect-infested
of 1.1 percent, but a 7.5 percent month-over-month decline timber in Europe, as well as reduced production and tighter
from June; the import value reached $1.05 billion, up 8.6 export controls; France remained largely unchanged (+0.3%),
percent year-over-year. but the average price rose significantly.
Overall, the trend was characterised by “a slight increase
in total volume and a rise in average prices.” Wood product exports dip in Ghana
Among these, logs accounted for 56.3 percent of total Data from the Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD)
imports. Imports of logs increased by 6.2 percent year-over- indicates that Ghana processed and exported a total volume of

year to 2.651 million cubic metres, but decreased by 15.8 83,250 cubic metres during the period January to May 2026,
percent compared to June; the import value rose by 17.9% down from 96,416 cubic metres in the same period in 2025.
year-over-year to $45,600, with the average price up 11 Wood product exports fell 14 percent in volume and 20
percent year-over-year. percent in value. Eighteen wood products were exported
Sawn timber imports totalled 2.054 million cubic metres, during the period in 2026 earning Eur36.0 million compared
down 4.8 percent year-over-year but up six percent from to Euro44.8 million in 2025.
June, marking the second consecutive month of month-over- Exports of major wood products including sawnwood and

month growth. veneer dropped in volume and value. The exceptions were
The import value rose 2.4 percent year-over-year to $595 plywood and kiln-dried boules which recorded increases
million, a slight increase of 2.4 percent, while the average (153% and 369%) in volume and increases (137% and 383%)
price rose 7.5 percent year-over-year. in value respectively.
In July 2026, China’s top ten timber suppliers collectively The drop in export volumes could largely be attributed
accounted for approximately 95 percent of total imports, to the shortage of logs and high production costs which
reflecting an extremely high level of concentration. The main increasingly make it difficult for most sawmillers to break even.
changes are as follows: Air-dried and kiln-dried sawnwood, plywood and billets
For New Zealand, imports totalled 1.643 million cubic metres, continued to be the leading wood products exported from

up 10.3 percent year-over-year, with the value increasing by Ghana contributing 49 percent, 12 percent, 22 percent and
26.1 percent. With growth in both volume and value, New seven percent respectively of the total volume of exports
Zealand firmly held the top spot. during the period.
For Russia, imports totalled 1.033 million cubic metres, During the first 5-months period of 2026, export prices for
down 7.6 percent year-over-year, while the value increased species including teak, mahogany, white ofram, tali decking,
by 5.7 percent. tetekon and dubini declined in the range of Eur17 to Eur54
For US, import volume surged from 94,000 cubic metres per cubic metres.