WOOD PRODUCTS AND PANELS

www.euwid-wood-products.com · 28.04.2021

ISSUE 16/2021 OF 21.04.2021 PAGE 1

Softwood logs exports to China more than doubled

At a total of 5.876m m³ (2019: 2.775m m³), the volume of softwood sawlogs exported by Germany to China in 2020 was
more than double the figure for the previous year. After three-figure growth rates in each of the first (+123 %), second
(+117 %), and third quarters (+137 %), the plus at the end of the year turned out to be a little lower again at 78 %.
Provisional data from Destatis, the federal statistics office in Wiesbaden, German exports of softwood sawlogs last year
totalled 9.740m m³ (5.497m m³), which equates to an increase of 77 % against 2019. China’s share of the total
softwood-log exports rose from 50 % to 60 %.

The figures from Destatis deviate greatly from those of the Chinese customs statistics. According to the data presented
roughly two months ago the imports from Germany amounted to 9.920m m³ in 2020. Even taking into account the
243,016 m³ (251,335 m³) of industrial softwood that Germany exported to China, the difference to the latest figures from
the German foreign trade statistics is still 3.8m m³ or 62 %.

Behind China, Austria takes second place amongst the biggest buyers for German softwood sawlogs. At 1.883m m³
(1.424m m³), the exports to this particular destination were up by roughly a third. Belgium takes third place at 581,908
m³ (543,601 m³), an increase of 7 %.

The value of Germany’s softwood-sawlog exports rose by 54 % last year to €638.4m (€202.8m). The arithmetical export
value continued to decline in 2020 and, at an average of €65.5/m³ (€75.2/m³), was 13 % lower than a year earlier.

The increase in softwood-sawlog exports is exclusively attributable to spruce. At 9.308m m³ (4.906m m³), the exported
volume of spruce was 90 % higher than the year before. In contrast, a third fewer pine sawlogs were exported at
241,550 m³ (358,058 m³) the volume of other exported softwood sawlogs was 18 % down at 191,346 m³ (233,288 m³).

The high supply of roundwood on the German market due to damaged wood caused imports to fall accordingly. In total,
imports fell by 14 % to 3.709m m³ (4.334m m³), though development varied very widely from one state to another. In
spite of the high volumes of damaged wood in the Czech Republic too, the imports in this case turned out to be 5 %
lower at 2.280m m³ (2.398m m³). Imports from Poland slumped sharply by 45 % to 341,427 m³ (618,868 m³), which is
due in part to eastern German pine sawmills’ switch to spruce. The imports from France fell as well and were ultimately
20 % short of the figure for 2019 at 231,781 m³ (289,616 m³). In contrast to this, the imports from Sweden were almost
trebled from 66,098 m³ to 168,297 m³.

Owing to the contrary development in the imports and export figures, the German trade surplus increased almost 19 %
to 6.032m m³ (5.063m m³).

Imports and exports were largely balanced for industrial softwood in 2020, with imports of 1.829m m³ (2.523m m³)
coinciding with exports of 1.869m m³ (1.966m m³). No significant changes occurred in the main supplier and recipient
countries last year. Poland remained the number one supplier in spite of a 42 % reduction in imports to 696,860m m³
(1.195m m³). Belgium remained the main recipient at 538,118 m³ (551,390 m³). The export value fell by 20 % to €79.5m
(€99.3m) and imports were 11 % down at €19.7m (€22.2m).

Licensed for Pablo Carrasco CMPC MADERAS S.A.

© 2021 EUWID Europäischer Wirtschaftsdienst GmbH · All Rights Reserved.

The regular and systematic circulation of EUWID price tables is not permitted. Only one copy is permitted to be printed out for the purpose of circulation
within the company. Digital distribution of EUWID price tables by intranet or by E-Mail within a company, throughout a group of companies, or outside a
company is not permitted and constitutes an infringement of copyright law. Read more in our FAQs.
 WOOD PRODUCTS AND PANELS
www.euwid-wood-products.com · 28.04.2021

ISSUE 16/2021 OF 21.04.2021 PAGE 2

Licensed for Pablo Carrasco CMPC MADERAS S.A.

© 2021 EUWID Europäischer Wirtschaftsdienst GmbH · All Rights Reserved.

The regular and systematic circulation of EUWID price tables is not permitted. Only one copy is permitted to be printed out for the purpose of circulation
within the company. Digital distribution of EUWID price tables by intranet or by E-Mail within a company, throughout a group of companies, or outside a
company is not permitted and constitutes an infringement of copyright law. Read more in our FAQs.