Timber imports up
Australian imports of timber products rose by almost 12% to more than $A2 billion in the
second half of last year
(Report in the radiata bulletin)
Australian imports of timber products rose by almost 12 percent to more than $A2 billion
($US1.21 billion) in the second half of last year according to statistics released by the
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE).
There has been an increase in timber product imports across all sectors, including paper,
pulp and wood-based panels.
Sawnwood imports grew 14 percent in the September and December quarters, while domestic
production slipped almost four percent.
Wood-based panels imports were up almost 30 percent.
ABARE acting executive director Vivek Tulpule said it appeared the strong construction
industry was responsible for the increased level of imports.
¡°Continued strength in the residential building sector in the
September quarter pushed apparent consumption of sawnwood to record levels in the December
quarter,¡± he said in a statement.
While the import sector climbed, the export sector slipped one per cent to just over $A1
billion ($US604.4 million) for the two quarters.
China¡¯s wood imports continue to grow
China¡¯s imports of wood products during the first three months
of the year, continued the trend of recent years and were up on the corresponding period a
year earlier.
Log imports totalled 6.3 million tonnes between January and March-2003, according to
statisties - from China¡¯s General Administration of Customs -
a 11 percent rise on the same period in 2002.
Sawn timber imports totalled 1 .2 million tonnes, for the first three months of
the year, representing an increase of 14 percent on a year earlier.
Source: NAFI |
