| China maintains as largest destination of U.S. hardwoods for 3 years |
BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- China has been the largest importer of the hardwoods from the United States for last three years, said Michael Snow, Executive Director of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) here Wednesday in a press conference.
According to U.S. statistics, in the first half year of 2006, the value of U.S. hardwood products exported to China's mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan reached 2.9 billion RMB yuan (approximately 350 million U.S. dollars), representing a growth of 15 percent over the same term in 2005.
The hardwoods that China imported are mainly processed into finished products such as furniture and then exported to other countries.
According to the China Association of Furniture, in 2005, the export volume of Chinese furniture reached 13.77 billion dollars, up 32.98 percent and ranking the top in the world. About 47 percent of furniture exports were to the United States.
Snow said the rapid growth of China's economy and its domestic demand has also lead to the growth of U.S. hardwood imports.
The quality of Chinese furniture has improved, gaining a better international reputation, he said
|
|
