Forest industry in China - statistics & facts
China has one of the largest forest and wood manufacturing industries in the world. The country was the second largest importer of wood in 2022 and the leading exporter of manufactured wood products. Until 2018, China’s forestry sector grew by more than six percent annually, but growth rates have dropped in recent years.
At the same time, China’s wood processing sector developed rapidly. This was driven by strongly growing domestic demand as well as a burgeoning export sector. Today, China owns one of the largest wood processing industries in the world. The country is a leading exporter of wood-based board (especially plywood), wooden doors, furniture, and paper products. As the demand for raw materials is higher than production, China is a large importer of forest products, especially roundwood, sawnwood, and pulp.
Development of China’s forestry sector
Over the last decades, the Chinese government has made major efforts to increase the country’s forest coverage. This was motivated by economic as well as environmental considerations. Between 1990 and 2020, the total forest area increased from 157 million hectares to around 220 million, making China the country with the fifth largest forest area globally.At the same time, China’s wood processing sector developed rapidly. This was driven by strongly growing domestic demand as well as a burgeoning export sector. Today, China owns one of the largest wood processing industries in the world. The country is a leading exporter of wood-based board (especially plywood), wooden doors, furniture, and paper products. As the demand for raw materials is higher than production, China is a large importer of forest products, especially roundwood, sawnwood, and pulp.
