Vietnam seizes opportunity as China halts US timber imports: boosting intake and re-exports

As China halts timber imports from the US, Vietnam eyes an opportunity to boost its own timber intake for processing and re-export — reinforcing its position as a key player in the global wood furniture market.

HA NOI— Amid China’s suspension of log and sawn timber imports from the United States – valued at around US$2 billion annually – Vietnam wood industry is expressing interest in taking in these materials for processing and re-export, particularly to the US market, which remains Vietnam’s largest importer of wood products.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam’s exports of wood and wood products reached an estimated $3.95 billion in the first quarter of 2025, up 11.6 per cent year-on-year. The US remained Vietnam’s largest export market, accounting for 53.1 per cent of total export value, followed by Japan (13.2 per cent) and China (10.6 per cent).

In 2024, Vietnam imported $316.36 million worth of timber from the US – a 32.9 per cent increase over 2023 – representing 11.2 per cent of the country’s total timber import value. The three main products included sawn timber, logs, and veneer, with a combined value of $311.96 million, or 98.6 per cent of Vietnam’s imports from the US.

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Specifically, log imports from the US reached 303,330 cubic metres, worth $89.9 million, up 41.4 per cent in volume and 51.6 per cent in value. Sawn timber imports totalled 428,980 cubic metres, equivalent to $215.32 million, up 20.8 per cent in volume and 29.6 per cent in value, while veneer imports hit 4,240 cubic metres, worth $6.72 million – rising by 103 per cent and 108 per cent, respectively.

Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Việt Nam Timber and Forest Products Association (VIFORES) Ngo Sy Hoai emphasised that US timber consistently meets legality standards required by major export markets such as the EU.

Currently, Vietnam is the second-largest supplier of furniture to the US, accounting for 38–40 per cent of the country’s wood furniture imports, valued at an estimated US$23–24 billion annually.

At a meeting on April 7 with Minister of Agriculture and Environment Đo Đuc Duy, Hoai noted that in 2024, Vietnam exported around $9.4 billion worth of timber and forest products to the US. Vietnam also became the second-largest importer of US timber, indicating strong bilateral cooperation potential in the wood processing sector.

Currently, domestic timber production cannot meet the industry’s needs, leaving Vietnam heavily reliant on imports. Of the country’s $2.81 billion worth of wood and wood product imports in 2024, raw timber (HS code 44) accounted for 85.2 per cent – nearly $2.4 billion. Logs and sawn timber remain the core products, making up more than 50 per cent of import value.

Despite trade uncertainties, many wood businesses remain resilient and hopeful about the Government’s ongoing negotiations. Vietnam’s decision to waive import duties on timber shipments from the US signals goodwill and aims to foster bilateral trade cooperation while easing tensions.

In the long term, VIFORES has proposed that the Government continue supporting businesses through fiscal and monetary policies previously applied during the COVID-19 period – including tax deferrals, rent reductions and debt restructuring – to help the industry navigate current challenges. — VNS

(According to VietnamNews)

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