In recent two years, Russia has continuously adjusted its timber exporting policy, aiming at lowering its exporting volume of logs. For instance, the exporting tariff of log has been raised by 25% meanwhile its average price has remained at least 15 Euro Dollars per m3. However, all these moves carried out by Russian government could not arrest China’s enthusiasm in importing Russian timber.

1. Imports of log
In the first 8 months in 2008, the total importing volume of log in China was 20.8546 million m3 with a total price of $ 3.6376569 billion. Among it, the importing volume of Russian log was 13.3784 million m3 which covered 64.15% of the total importing volume, and the total value was $ 1.7873587 billion which covered 49.14% of the sum. However, Papua New Guinea, an up-and-coming youngster, ranked No. 2 in this year, because during the same period in 2008, China imported 1.6505 million m3 of Oceania log which merely covered 7.91% of the total volume, and the total value of it was $ 0.3144293 billion which covered 8.64% of the sum.

2. Imports of lumber
In the first 8 months in 2008, the total importing volume of lumber in China was 4.5384 million m3 with a total value of $ 1.2959063 billion. Among it, the volume of Russian lumber was 1.2482 million m3 which covered 27.5% of the total importing volume, and the total value was $ 0.2423799 billion which covered 18.7% of the sum. However, U.S. ranked No. 2 in this year, because during the same period in 2008, China imported 0.68 million m3 of U.S. log which covered 15.18% of the total volume, and the total value of it was $ 0.2421458 billion which covered 18.69% of the sum.
   
It is obvious that during the first 8 months in China, Russian timber ranked top one in terms of importing volume of two major species, log and lumber, and importing value. Although Russia has raised its exporting tariff for several times, its unit price of exports has been lower than the average level of global market. In the first 8 months, the unit price of Russian log was $ 133.6 which was lower by 23.24%. Compared to the average unit price of $ 174.43 in China, it lessened $ 40.53 per m3. During the same period, the unit price of Russian lumber was $ 194.18 which was lower by 32%. Compared to the average unit price of $ 285.54, it lessened $ 91.36 per m3. It is expected that this situation will go on for a long while in China.