Global Timber Trade - Information

Mozambique


Imports of logs from Mozambique declared by China - Volume (thousand cubic metres)
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
14
33
33
45
70
81
81
109
126
212
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (including China Customs Statistics Yearbook)
.

Mozambique
The table above suggests that the volume of logs which China declares as imports has tended to increase rapidly - particularly during 2007. Their import value almost doubled during 2007 (to US$95 million).

The average volume imported monthly during 2006 and 2007 respectively amounted approximately to 11,000m3 and 18,000m3. The corresponding monthly average import values were approximately to US$ 4million and US$ 8million.

The chart above illustrates that imports increased markedly from the end of 2006 but then fell back to their earlier level during late 2007. This indicates that imports during 2008 might be lower than during 2007 (and perhaps similar to the total for 2006).

The majority of China's supplies of logs from Mozambique are declared as imports for enterprises located in Guangdong province (whose timber industry is characterised particularly by the manufacture of wooden furniture).

The provinces of Shanghai and, to a lesser extent, Zhejiang accounted for a substantial proportion of the total imported, particularly from the end of 2006 to near the end of 2007. The province of Beijing accounted for most of the remainder.

The data which appear anomalous in the chart are attributable to logs declared as imports for enterprises located in Beijing Chaoyangqu (February 2007), Shanghai Xuhiuqu (February and June 2007), Zhejiang Wenzhou (August 2007), Zhejiang Huzhou (September 2007), and Guangdong Guangzhoushi (April 2006 and April 2007). Note: corresponding import value data show the same pattern (- there are no apparent anomalies in import value per unit of wood volume).

China accounts for almost all the timber exported from Mozambique, and logs comprise the great majority of those exports.

 

Suggested reading:
"Corruption Skims Profits from China-Mozambique Timber Trade" by S Norfolk in Haramata Edition 52 (12/2007) [p23-24]
"Forest Governance in Zambézia, Mozambique: Chinese Takeaway!" by C Mackenzie for FONGZA (2006)
"How Northern Donors Promote Corruption - Tales from the new Mozambique" by The Corner House (2004)
"Gleanings on Governance - Learning from a Two Year Process of Forest Policy Support to ProAgri" by IIED (2004) [p15 §3]

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