China Guangdong's Timber Imports
Guangdong is one of the most developed areas in China and exports from the province make
up one third of the national total. In the first half of 2003 the provincial economic
growth rate broke previous records and reached 12.6%. Provincial GDP topped yuan 582.203
billion even though being affected by the SARS epidemic.
The growth rate was 3.6 percentage points higher than the forecast annual growth objective
at the beginning of this year. Chen Shanru, Director of the provincial Development and
Planning Committee, thinks that the provincial annual GDP growth will be sure to reach 11%
and could exceed 12% if post SARS recover is faster than expected.
In tandem with the rapid national economic development, the provincial forest products
trade has also flourished with both imports and exports up in the first half of 2003.
According to statistics, Guangdong Province's imported 2.8621 million cubic metres of
timber (log equivalent) between January and June, a year on year increase of 8.8%.
Log imports were 1.0254 million cubic metres, a year on year increase of 20.5% which
reversed the downward trend in log imports over the past years. Sawnwood imports reached
1.8362 million cubic metres (log equivalent), a year on year increase of 3.2% while
plywood imports also enjoyed positive growth increasing 24% over the same period last
year. At the same time, the provincial furniture exports continued to grow and the total
value of exports reached US$1.64 billion, a year on year increase of 20.3%.
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