According to customs statistics, in the first quarter of 2008, China imported 8510.5 million cubic meters of logs, down10.5% compared with the same period last year, and the value of logs10.4 billion US dollars, up 8.2%. The average import price was 164.4 USD/m3, up by 22.2%. Among them, imports in March were 3.288 million cubic meters, down 9.6% and valued at 560 million US dollars, up 9%. The main features of its import are:

/kloc-Imports rebounded in October and March. Since July last year, the monthly import volume of logs in China was basically below 3 million cubic meters, and it rose to 3.288 million cubic meters in March 2008, down 9.6% year-on-year, but up 37.4% month-on-month. In March, we imported 2196,000 cubic meters from Russia, down 12.7% year-on-year and up 22% month-on-month.

Second, small-scale border trade is the mainstay. In 2008 1 quarter, China imported 5136,000 cubic meters of logs through small-scale border trade, down by 15.6%, accounting for 60.3% of China's log imports in the same period. General trade imported 2.99 million cubic meters of logs, down 2.6%.

Third, private enterprises are the main force of import. In 2008 1 quarter, China's private enterprises imported 6194,000 cubic meters of logs, down 15.6%, accounting for 72.7% of China's log imports in the same period; State-owned enterprises imported logs 1.785 million cubic meters, an increase of 2.3%.

Nearly 70% of logs are imported from Russia. In 2008 1 quarter, China imported 5.878 million cubic meters of Russian logs, down by 14.4%, accounting for 69% of China's log imports in the same period. In addition, Papua New Guinea and Gabon imported 632,000 cubic meters and 279,000 cubic meters of logs, ranking second and third respectively.

In recent years, the world's major log exporting countries have successively issued policies to restrict the export of logs, and the transportation cost has risen, so the price of logs in the international market has been rising. Among them, in order to change the export structure of timber mainly based on raw materials, Russia has continuously increased the tariff rate of log export, and since July 2007, it has increased the tariff rate of log export to 20%, but not less than 10 Euro/cubic meter; From April 2008, the tariff rate of log export will be increased to 25%, but not lower than 15 Euro/m3; Starting from 5,438+10 in June next year, it will further increase to 80%, but not less than 50 euros/cubic meter, which will undoubtedly further increase the import cost of logs in China.