Impressive figures! In 2026, China’s timber trade posted a surplus exceeding RMB 22.6 billion, with particleboard exports doubling.

2026-05-29 Source: Shanghai Timber Industry Association

Recently, the 2026 Home Furnishings and Building Materials Industry Foreign Trade Forum was successfully held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. Hosted by the China Timber and Wood Products Circulation Association and co-organized by the Shanghai Timber Industry Association, the forum brought together industry experts and corporate representatives to examine the current state of timber and wood product imports and exports, the market landscape, and future development directions, offering insights and strategies to drive high-quality growth in the sector’s international trade. Attendees included Li Jiafeng, President of the China Timber and Wood Products Circulation Association; Yang Yuelu, President of the Shandong Timber and Wood Products Association; Xie Xiaobin, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Timber Industry Association; and Zhang Enjiu, Chairman of the Board of Jusheng Flooring. Meanwhile, Shen Wei, Secretary-General of the China Timber and Wood Products Circulation Association, presented the latest industry data and conducted an in-depth analysis on-site, dissecting the current foreign trade environment and outlining three key trends shaping the industry’s future.

According to Shen Wei, in recent years China’s trade pattern for timber and wood products has continued to improve, with the trade surplus steadily expanding and a distinct trend of “large imports of raw materials and substantial exports of finished goods.” On the import side, the bulk consists of primary inputs such as logs and sawn timber, while exports are concentrated in value-added finished products like furniture, engineered wood panels, and flooring. In 2025, the sector’s foreign trade performance was particularly strong, with annual wood product exports reaching US$39.19 billion and imports declining to US$16.56 billion, pushing the trade surplus beyond US$22.6 billion. Even after a slight pullback from earlier peaks, export volumes remain at a high level, underscoring the sector’s robust and stable foreign‑trade foundation.

From the perspective of the timber import market, China’s total timber imports have continued to decline, while domestic substitution has accelerated. In 2025, China’s timber imports are projected at 65.55 million cubic meters, down 11.5% year on year. With the increasing maturity of domestic forestry resource utilization and engineered‑board production technologies, the country’s self‑sufficiency in raw materials has improved significantly. Among specific product categories, softwood logs are predominantly sourced from New Zealand, accounting for 76% of the total; hardwood log supplies are concentrated in Papua New Guinea, Russia, the Solomon Islands, and other regions. Starting in 2026, both log and sawn‑timber imports are expected to remain on a downward trajectory, with softwood log and hardwood log imports falling by 7.47% and 8.5%, respectively, year over year. The decline in softwood sawn‑timber imports is even more pronounced, at 27.12%. At the same time, the industry is proactively adjusting its procurement strategies and gradually diversifying import sources. The share of imports from markets such as Japan, Canada, and France has increased, underscoring a clear trend toward supply chain diversification and effectively mitigating risks associated with reliance on any single region.

In the export sector, various wood products have demonstrated strong performance, serving as the main driver of foreign trade growth. Engineered wood products have shown particularly robust growth; from January to April 2026, Plywood 、 Fiberboard Exports increased year-on-year by 17.40% and 9.80%, respectively. Particleboard Exports more than doubled, rising by 111.10%, while imports of all types of wood panels declined significantly, underscoring the continued strengthening of domestic wood panel products’ international competitiveness. Wooden furniture, wooden doors, wood… Bamboo flooring Exports of home‑improvement and building‑materials products have also continued to grow. In the first four months of 2026, shipments of wooden furniture rose 19.30% year on year, while exports of wooden doors and wood‑and‑bamboo flooring posted steady gains. At present, China’s wood‑product export market is expanding steadily: while deepening its presence in traditional markets such as Europe and North America, demand from emerging regions—including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America—remains robust, leading to an increasingly balanced market structure.

Drawing on current market data and the industry landscape, Shen Wei has identified three major trends shaping the timber and wood products sector. First, on the supply side, total imports are gradually declining, domestic substitution is accelerating across the board, import sources are diversifying, and supply-chain resilience is strengthening. Second, on the export front, the competitive edge of finished products continues to grow; the industry is rapidly shifting toward higher‑value‑added, environmentally friendly offerings, and diversified market strategies have become a widely shared corporate priority. Third, the sector as a whole has entered a phase of transformation and upgrading, moving away from extensive, scale‑driven expansion toward safe, controllable operations, efficient production, and green, low‑carbon practices. Driven by both the “dual carbon” policy and evolving market demand, eco‑friendly manufacturing, smart production, and end‑to‑end green management will emerge as the core competencies that enable companies to maintain a strong foothold in the marketplace.

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Editor: Fang Fen