The latest customs data shows that in March 2026, China’s timber imports totaled 4.678 million cubic meters, a 14.2% year-on-year decrease; however, they surged by 45.5% compared to February. During the same period, the value of imports reached $1 billion, a 9.1% year-on-year decrease; however, it surged by 44.3% compared to February.

Australia spent more than $3 billion last year on importing wood products with China alone responsible for supplying $1.318 billion, 43.8 per cent of all products, a figure that is more than the next four countries combined and 9.1 per cent higher than the year before. That is according to new data obtained by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and analysed by IndustryEdge, whose country-by-country and product-by-product breakdown measures every figure on an AUD cif basis, reflecting the landed cost in Australia inclusive of freight and insurance.

Statistics are updated a couple times a year and they are provided by Finnish Sawmill Association.

Fastmarkets is pleased to publish the following European sawn timber price assessments and market story. The price table below is in pilot phase, and we are continuing to recruit price contributors.

Some natural forests in the world are so old, that it is difficult to even put a date to them. However, thanks to modern scientific techniques, scientists are now able to roughly pinpoint the age of some of the world’s oldest forests.

New Zealand’s Far North District Council, Northland Regional Council and Northland Inc are encouraging investor interest in a significant wood processing opportunity in Taitokerau, as a market process gets underway for Juken New Zealand’s (JNL) Northland operations. Source: Timberbiz

Following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, extensive sanctions were imposed on Russia. For example, the import of Russian wood and wood products into the EU has been banned since June 2022. This had an impact on the country’s sawmill industry: Both production output and revenue of Russian lumber producers decreased. 2024 figures show that while lumber production remained stable compared to 2023, Russian producers were able to increase their revenues by 16%. Nevertheless, the industry remained below the break-even point.

In a world full of steel, concrete, and composites, wood is still holding its ground and for good reason. Wood is one of the most flexible, sustainable, and effective building materials available today. If you’ve ever walked into a room with exposed timber beams or a home that smells faintly of cedar, you know the feeling. Warmth. Strength. And, timeless appeal.