Increased Demand Forecasts Canada's Total Wood Exports to China to Multiply in 5 Years

According to a new research report, due to the large demand for housing construction in Chinese cities, the total timber exports from Canada to China are expected to double within the next five years, while BC, the main timber producer in Canada, The amount of timber exported to China last year was even more impressive, reaching 4.6 million cubic meters (29 billion barrels).

According to a survey conducted by the RISI research company headquartered in the United States, China’s demand for logs, timber, plywood, etc., is expected to increase by 9% each year from now to 2015.

Robert Flynn, director of international timber market research at RISI Research, said: “Actually, our estimates are quite conservative. We are confident that Canada’s timber exports to China can easily double in the next five years. He pointed out that Canada had exported 9.4 million cubic meters of timber to China last year, and this figure is expected to increase to 19 million cubic meters in 2015. Flynn said Canada’s share of the timber market in China is currently about 50%, but given the rich timber resources in Canada, future market development is still very optimistic.

Pat Bell of British Columbia’s Director of Employment, Tourism and Innovation also recently stated that China may replace the United States as the largest timber export market in the province in the next two years.

In 2003, the total amount of timber exported by BC to China was only 232 million boards, or about 11 percent of last year.