China's trade in the main forest products achieved a favorable
balance in 2005 for the first time since 1949, the China Green
Times reported on February 20.
Statistics from the General Administration of Customs show that
the total trade volume was US$38.318 billion, up 18.51 percent from
the previous year and equal to 43 percent of the total output of
the country's forestry industry. This was broken up into exports
worth more than US$20 billion (the first time such a figure was
achieved), up 29.36 percent, and imports totaling US$17.627
billion, up 7.87 percent, creating a favorable trade balance of
US$3.064 billion.
A continuous and rapid increase in the two-way trade of forest
products has not only enabled Chinese products to become more
competitive internationally, but also helped to upgrade the
comprehensive development of the forestry industry to the point
where it has become one of the most important economic growth
points, according to the analysis of forestry experts. Export of
forest products has become a major revenue source for some local
governments, and helped boost farmers' income and created jobs.
Meanwhile, with the growth of output, export volume, and foreign
exchange profits, the increasing demands for raw materials have
brought into full play the initiative of local people for
forestation, thus promoting agricultural structural adjustment.
Among the main export items, wooden furniture still ranks first
in terms of earnings, with continuous and large growth. Paper,
paperboard, wood products, plywood, and rattan-straw-reed products
rank second, third, fourth and fifth respectively. Plywood and
fiberboard exports are maintaining a continuous high upturn and
have become internationally competitive. However, veneer and
chipboard exports continue to decline.
On the import side, the trade in logs reached 29.368 million
cubic meters, up 11.6 percent, and was worth US$3.244 billion, up
15.6 percent. The import of logs accounted for 62 percent of the
country's total wood output in 2005. Sawn material imports stood at
6.054 million cubic meters, equaling the figure of the previous
year, although the cost rose 9.3 percent. Imports of artificial
board changed a great deal, with the volume of plywood, fiberboard,
and chipboard decreasing to varying degrees. Wood pulp, waste
paper, paper, paperboard, and paper products import remain the
largest imported items, continuously maintaining rapid growth and
being worth US$11.004 billion, a rise of 6.7 percent from the
previous year. Imports of edible fruit and nut products increased
by 3.7 percent.
Experts said that, with China's continuous huge demand for
artificial board and wood pulp raw materials, imports of wood chips
continued to show a rapid upturn, while exports continuously
decreased. Imports of paper, paperboard and paper products also
showed signs of decline, while exports of wood pulp enjoy a
comparatively large upturn, which is considered a challenge to the
structural adjustment of the domestic papermaking industry.
Adjusted and controlled by a state policy that forbids the export
of charcoal, imports have remained high and the pressure of
domestic resources was alleviated in varying degrees.
Experts pointed out that the share of Chinese forest products in
international markets has been expanding, but disputes over alleged
dumping, illegal tree-cutting, and illegal trade frequently occur,
as have technological trade measures involving standards,
authentication and quarantine. Domestic forestry enterprises face
such problems as small production scale, slow progress in
technological innovation, low quality of products, and inability to
adapt to the demands of international trade. These matters await
further policy guidance and support.
(China.org.cn by Li Jingrong, February 22, 2006)