China to Surpass Japan as the World's Largest Hardwood Chip Importer by 2014

BRUSSELS, April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese hardwood chip imports will double from 6.3 million Bone Dry Metric Tons (BDMT) in 2011, to 12.7 million BDMT in 2016. Japan's imports of hardwood chips will drop from 9.9 million BDMT to 8.6 million BDMT in the same period, the lowest volume of imports since 1993. This is the forecast published today in the 2012 International Pulpwood Trade Review, by RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry.

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China's imports of hardwood chips have increased six-fold over the last four years (2008 to 2011), from 1 to 6.2 million BDMT. This surge in volume was the result of large new pulp mills being built in China near port facilities. The expected construction of a series of new pulp mills over the next several years will drive China's demand for hardwood chips even higher. While China's demand grows, Japan's projected decrease in domestic production of Bleached Hardwood Kraft Pulp (BHKP) will continue to diminish its demand for imported hardwood chips.

International Pulpwood Trade Review is authored by Robert Flynn, Director of International timber at RISI and Dennis Nielson, Director of DANA Ltd. Together they share over 60 years experience in the forest industry, analyzing trade and consulting clients globally. 

"This report has long been the standard for those in the business of international trade of woodchips, pulplogs and biomass fiber. It examines the markets for globally traded pulpwood fiber and pulpwood resources for domestic and export supply in more than 35 countries until 2016," said Flynn.

Included in International Pulpwood Trade Review are:

• A listing of Wood Pulp Projects 2011-2015 in China
• Global fiber trade forecast 2012-2016
• Analysis of International Trade in Biomass Chips and Pellets
• Profiles of more than 70 woodchip export facilities (covering every woodchip supplier, on a port by port basis with: species exported, volumes, trading company partners, end-use customers, and details on available resources)
• Direct Contact Details for Woodchip and Pulplog Suppliers and Buyers in the Pacific and Atlantic Markets
• A Complete List of Woodchip Carriers by Age, Size, Owner and Charterer

For more information about the 2012 International Pulpwood Trade Review visit www.risi.com/tradepulpwood

About RISI (www.risi.com)

Owned by UBM plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. The company works with clients in the pulp and paper, wood products, timber, biomass, tissue, nonwovens, printing and publishing industries to help them make better decisions.

Headquartered in Boston, MA, RISI operates additional offices throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia.

About UBM plc (www.ubm.com)

UBM plc is a leading global company. We inform markets and bring the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provide them with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional commercial communities, from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. Our 6,000 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

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SOURCE RISI