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Malaysia has emerged as China’s fastest‑growing supplier of fibreboard, recording a remarkable 683% surge in shipments to 1,400 tonnes in the first nine months of 2025, according to new data from China Customs. The jump — the largest of any supplying country — comes as China’s total fibreboard imports rose 16% year‑on‑year to 45,000 tonnes – up to 50% of the world’s supply, signalling renewed demand from downstream manufacturers. New Zealand, Thailand, Germany, and Spain followed.
Vietnam remained China’s largest overseas market, with imports soaring 126% to 501,000 tonnes. Strong growth was also recorded in Saudi Arabia, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada, each posting double‑digit increases. Exports to the United States and Nigeria softened, falling 9% and 1% respectively.
China’s wooden furniture sector, however, continues to face headwinds.
Export receipts fell 7% to US$16.69 billion in the first nine months of 2025, with shipments to the United States — China’s largest market — plunging 18% to US$4.24 billion. Despite the downturn, China maintained strong sales to other major destinations, exporting US$1.2 billion worth of wooden furniture to the United Kingdom and US$1.1 billion to Australia. Malaysia also remained a significant buyer, importing US$445 million worth of China‑made wooden furniture — an 18% increase year‑on‑year.
China’s wooden furniture imports also declined, falling 6% to US$461 million over the same period. Italy remained the largest supplier, accounting for 46% of China’s total imports, though shipments fell 9% to US$214 million. Declines were also recorded from Germany, Vietnam, and France. Whilst several smaller suppliers bucked the trend, with imports rising from Thailand, Slovakia, and Indonesia.
Interpol announced that from 15 September – 15 October, law enforcement agencies comprising police, customs, border security and forestry and wildlife authorities from 134 countries made a total of 4,640 seizures during Operation Thunder 2025.
The TV loop aims to identify and take action against instances of false claims or other violations of FSC requirements.
The scope of this Eurasia birch wood panels TV loop is:
- Geographic areas: China and central and eastern European countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine).
- Product type: Plywood
- Species: Birch (Betula)
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