China's Forest Products Trade up 35%

Beijing, China, September 13, 2007--China's foreign trade of forest products reached $27.2 billion in the first half of this year, up 35.3% over the same period in 2006, the State Forestry Administration (SFA) said on Wednesday, according to a report from Chinadaily.com.cn.

Exports of forest products went up 41% to $15.5 billion and imports rose 28% to $11.7 billion, said Cao Qingyao, SFA spokesman.

Cao said the imports were mainly primary products, such as paper pulp, and the exports were high value-added or labor-intensive materials with competitive advantages, adding "China's forest products foreign trade structure is improving."

The Chinese government has lowered export tax rebates on primary wood products like furniture and imposed extra tariffs on exports of wooden flooring and disposable chopsticks.