Balkans timber market amid conditions of the increasing chinese impact

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the research of the market for logs and sawnwood in the region of Balkans. The scope was to analyse the market situation and market movements amid conditions of the increasing Chinese impact in the last five years. The results show the clear trend of increase in the hardwood logs and the sawnwood export from all countries of the region, and especially from Serbia. In 2017 the region has become the 4th significant oak log supplier of China with the participation in the Chinese import of 7%. The leading country of the oak logs export to China is Serbia, followed by Romania, Slovenia and Bulgaria. Regarding the sawnwood export, the most presented is the beech sawnwood. Due to the constant demand of the Chinese timber merchants for this type of the sawnwood in the last five years, its prices have been constantly increasing. Since the logs export suddenly increased, some countries have imposed protection measures and temporarily banned their export.