Sawn softwood imports up 0.8% as stability continues
Remaining well below their pandemic peaks, imports of sawn softwood rose a very modest 0.8% over the year-ended July 2026, totalling 621,146 m3. The result continues more than two years of relative stability, after several observable years of more turbulent import volumes.
Imports and local production (the proxy is sales) have travelled very similar (largely flat) trajectories since early 2024. For example, year-ended July, local sales of sawn softwood lifted 4.9%, showing early signs of recovery.
Australian Sawn Softwood Imports – Monthly & Annual: Jan ’18 – Jul ‘26 (m3)
Source: ABS and IndustryEdge
The second chart provides an alternate view of the same data, placing both free-on-board and ‘landed’ or costs, insurance and freight (Cif) prices in comparison to the annual import volume.
The weighted average import price in July was AUDFob721.94/m3, up a modest 2.7% in real terms, compared to a year earlier. Shipping and freight costs decreased to AUD66/m3 – down 14.4% compared with the year prior, well below the medium-term average of AUD99/m3. Modest increases in net freight costs are of limited note.
Trend growth in prices is more important to consider. Sawn softwood is the most stable of all Australia’s timber and wood product import lines. Accordingly, consistent and clear trend price growth provides a window into growth in fibre prices, domestically and – at least to some extent – internationally.
Over the period indicated in the chart, weighted average sawn softwood import prices have increased 4.2% per annum, measured free-on-board. This is more than 1.0% higher than the average annual inflation rate. Import prices have been increasing in real and nominal terms.
Australian Sawn Softwood Imports: Jan ’18 – Jul ‘26 (m3 & AUDFob/m3 and AUDCif/m3)
Source: ABS, FWPA and IndustryEdge
Key import grades following different trajectories
The three major import grades – detailed below – accounted for almost two-thirds of total imports over the last year.
Among all the main import grades, the 59.4% increase in Untreated Dressed Pine imports has seen volumes rise to an annualised 162,723 m3, with a weighted average import price of AUDFob550.94/m3 in July 2026, while the landed price was AUDCif606.88/m3. This grade is now the largest single import grade accounting for 26.2% of total imports for the full year.
Untreated Dressed Pine Sawnwood Imports: Jan ’22 – Jul ’26 (m3 & AUDFob/m3 and AUDCif/m3)
Source: ABS and IndustryEdge
Imports of Treated, Dressed Fir and Spruce was one of the largest single import grade or line, accounting for 19.9% of total imports for the year but is observably in decline.
Import volumes were 41.1% lower than one year ago, after plunging at the end of the pandemic inspired boom. Year-ended July, imports totalled 123,647 m3, ending the year priced at AUDFob538.65/m3 or AUDCif589.79/m3 on a landed basis.
Dressed, Treated Fir & Spruce Sawnwood Imports: Jan ’22 – Jul ’26 (m3 & AUDFob/m3 and AUDCif/m3)
Source: ABS and IndustryEdge
Imports of Dressed Treated Radiata Pine remain at elevated levels compared with imports prior to and during the early phase of the pandemic. Year-ended July, imports totalled 119,813 m3, ending the year priced at AUDFob1,084.68/m3 or AUDCif1,173.45/m3 on a landed basis. This grade accounted for 19.3% of total imports for the year.
Dressed, Treated Radiata Pine Sawnwood Imports: Jan ’22 – Jul ’26 (m3 & AUDFob/m3 and AUDCif/m3)
Source: ABS and IndustryEdge
Major importing countries – New Zealand growing its influence
Australia’s imports of sawn softwood come from a relatively wide number of countries, with the mainstay being New Zealand, which contributed around 29% of supply year-ended July 2026, up from 25% one year earlier. Other significant suppliers are Lithuania and Sweden.
The chart and table below show the main countries, with future versions of this reporting needing to include Latvia separated out from ‘Other’.
Australian Sawn Softwood Imports by Main Country: Jan ’22 – Jul ‘26 (INDEX & %)
Source: ABS and IndustryEdge
Imports by state mirror construction activity
At the state level, sawn softwood imports are usually closely aligned to the level of construction activity. In that context, the modest increase in imports to Western Australia is ‘underperforming’ strong construction conditions in the state, while the big rise in imports to Queensland can only be linked in part to improved construction activity.
Sawn Softwood Imports by State: Jan ‘23 – Jul ’26 (m3)
Source: ABS and IndustryEdge
