The average growth in the value of retail sales of commodities in 2017 was 8.2% but sales of furniture exceeded the average rate and sales of ‘redwood’ furniture represented the fastest growth.
Chinese ‘redwood’ log imports totaled 990,000 cubic metres valued at US$914 million in 2017, up 24% in volume and 12% in value. Around 45% of Chinese ‘redwood’ log imports were from Nigeria in 2017 despite the log export ban and were worth US$329 million.
In addition, Gambia, Laos and Ghana are also suppliers of Chinese ‘redwood’ log imports in 2017.
Chinese ‘redwood’ sawnwood imports amounted to 150,000 cubic metres valued at US$210 million in 2017, surging 83% in volume and 66% in value. Some 37% of Chinese ‘redwood’ sawnwood imports were from Indonesia in 2017 and were worth US$100 million, a year on year increase of 68%. In addition, Laos, Nigeria and Benin were also significant suppliers of sawn ‘redwood’.
Imported ‘redwood’ is used in furniture making. ‘redwood’ furniture has developed rapidly. Before 2014 annual value of production of ‘redwood’ furniture in China was about US$46 billion. But after a temporary decline (the value of ‘redwood’ furniture production in Beijing alone fell 40% in 2015) it began to recover and grew to more than US$15 billion in 2016.
Chinese ‘redwood’ has a wide range of application.
Besides furniture making, Chinese ‘redwood’ is used in manufacturing various kinds of small ‘redwood’ products such as flower stand, incense burner table, wood carving, hand string, jewelry box, walking stick and musical instruments such as Chinese lute, erhu and pianos.
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