Sawn timber imports have shrunk by 7 percent compared to last years. According to the report of DGCI&S, Sawn timber import reduced by approx. Rs 130 crore in 2016-17 from Rs 1933 crore in FY 2015-16. This is the first time when Sawn timber imports have seen a decline in last five years, although the aggregate value import of wood shows a marginal drop after 2013. The ply Reporter has been reporting regularly about sawn timber imports gradual rise that has grown by 178% during last five years against Rs. 695.96 crore in year 2011-12.
DGCI&S data shows that wood logs have dropped by nearly 20 percent compared to last year in value terms. It has reduced to nearly Rs 7800 crore in 2016-17 from Rs 9730 crore of 2015-16. India is heavily dependent on imported timber for its domestic requirements. Since many countries have banned timber logs export and are promoting their domestically processed timber, these figures reflect the impact of those changes. Myanmar alone was a big exporter of logs to India which is not fully stopped after the ban in 2014.
India consumed huge volume of imported wood logs and wood products in 2014-15 (valued to Rs 15256.6 crore) and in 2015-16 (valued to Rs 14544.7 crore) fulfilling the basic requirement of habitant in real estate, furniture, housing, packaging etc. The importing products include Wood logs, Sawn timber, veneer, particle board MDF/Hardwood Plywood and Wooden Furniture. The consumption of these products from imports has dropped to Rs 12567.4 crore in the year 2016-17. Most of the products have shown drop in demand compared to the last year but veneer and wooden furniture imports have considerably grown from Rs 1140.8 to 1200 crore and Rs 376 to 461 crore respectively.