The current impact of China’s wood supply and demand on construction formwork—these points are worth noting!
Release time:
2020-07-24 19:10
Source:
Network
Under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, global trade is facing a severe test. China is a major consumer of timber and relies heavily on imports; the pandemic has disrupted the smooth flow of timber supplies. According to customs data, from January to February this year, the country's wood imports totaled 14.28 million cubic meters, a decrease of 9.9% year-on-year.
Recently, The Wood Conservation and Development Center and the China Infrastructure Materials Leasing and Contracting Association conducted a survey of China’s major timber import ports. It has been learned that wood prices have risen to varying degrees at several major timber import ports—including Taicang, Manzhouli, Suifenhe, and Erlianhot—as well as in cities along the China-Europe freight train routes, such as Chongqing, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Dezhou, and Xi'an.
Larch and white pine logs The prices at ports such as Manzhouli, Erenhot, Suifenhe, and Taicang are: 1000–1200 yuan/m³ ； Larch and white pine lumber boards The prices at ports such as Manzhouli, Erenhot, Suifenhe, and Taicang are: 1,400–1,500 yuan/m³ The prices of sawn timber in major China-Europe freight train cities such as Chongqing, Xi'an, and Chengdu are... 1800–2000 yuan/m³ Compared to the period before the outbreak, the above-mentioned The prices of logs at major ports and cities served by regular freight train services have risen by an average of about 20%, while the prices of sawn timber have increased by approximately 30%. 。 In some areas, such as Texas and Zhengzhou, there have also been instances of shortages in certain types of lumber.
China is a country with scarce wood resources. Its annual wood consumption is nearly 600 million cubic meters, and its import dependence is close to 60%. Among them, the construction industry accounts for one-third of total wood consumption; just wooden and bamboo plywood formwork alone consumes over 10 million cubic meters of high-quality, large-diameter timber each year. With the complete cessation of commercial logging in natural forests, the contradiction between wood supply and demand will persist for the long term.
In China's construction formwork systems, wood-based plywood formwork dominates, accounting for approximately 60% of the total formwork volume. Currently, the supply-and-demand situation for timber is having a significant impact on construction formwork. The most immediate challenge is the rising cost: as raw material and labor costs increase and under the influence of policy adjustments, the profitability of board-manufacturing enterprises is becoming increasingly worrisome. At the same time, China’s reliance on foreign timber imports remains high, and the risk of sharp fluctuations in timber prices could severely affect downstream enterprises. Moreover, the construction method of using loose, individually assembled components is highly inefficient. Coupled with the rapid rise in labor costs, the continued use of wood-based plywood formwork is bound to become unsustainable.
In the face of supply-demand imbalances, it is essential to make rational use of alternative resources, reduce demand for timber, and adjust the structural application of construction formwork. In recent years, as China has steadily established and improved its green, low-carbon, and circular economic system, the concept of green development has taken deep root in people’s minds. The state has introduced a series of favorable policies aimed at promoting and supporting the green building materials industry. Provided policy support for the development of plastic formwork, aluminum alloy formwork, and aluminum-frame plastic formwork. Developers and construction companies are increasingly emphasizing green construction. As green real estate and green building materials continue to develop, formwork systems that meet the criteria for green building materials will capture a larger market share. According to statistics and estimates by the China Infrastructure Materials Leasing and Contracting Association, currently, the market shares of plastic formwork and aluminum alloy formwork in China are 6% and 18%, respectively, and both are showing a rapid growth trend.
Plastic formwork
Aluminum alloy formwork
Under the pandemic, the global economy is facing enormous challenges, and China’s economic development is encountering increasing difficulties. The country is making every possible effort to create favorable conditions for resuming work and production, striving to ensure smooth circulation within industries, markets, and the broader economic and social system. In particular, the accelerated advancement of investment project construction will undoubtedly bring opportunities for the rapid development of plastic formwork, aluminum alloy formwork, and aluminum-frame plastic formwork. If “replacing wood with plastic” and “replacing wood with aluminum” represent the cultivation of green production methods, then promoting green construction through green building materials is an essential path for enhancing the “green benefits” of the construction industry and achieving high-quality development. We hope that relevant enterprises will seize these opportunities, leverage their own strengths, enhance their core competitiveness, and achieve rapid growth.
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