woodworking

China’s woodworking trade has developed rapidly, with the total value exceeding US$30 billion in 2004. The woodworking trade deficit of China is dwindling as the country focuses on imports of resource products and exports of high value-added downstream and labour‑intensive products for which China enjoys comparative advantage. The value of woodworking trade was US$32.3 billion in 2004, up 25％ from 2003. Of the total, exports accounted for US$16 billion (up 34％), while imports accounted for US$16.34 billion (up 18％). The trade deficit of woodworking in 2004 was US$346 million, a year on year decrease of over US$1.6 billion. Major imported products were logs (US$2.8 billion), sawnwood (US$1.4 billion), wood-based panel (US$890 million), wood pulp and waste paper (US$5.3 billion), paper and paper products (US$5 billion), edible fruits and nuts (US$619 million). Major exported products were furniture (US$5 billion), paper products (US$3.8 billion), small wood products (US$2.8 billion), wood-based panel (US$1.5 billion), sawnwood (US$219 million), rattan grass and reed products (US$1.1 billion), forest chemical products (US$350 million), edible fruits and nuts (US$917 million).