A Five-year Trade Dependence Analysis of Forest Products Between Taiwan and China

In 2003, Mainland China occupied 15.73% of the total importation value of forest products in Taiwan, and became the 3rd largest source of imported forest products (IFP). Since 1990, the growth rates of IFP values from mainland China are increasing, and higher than that from the global market. It indicated the trend dependence is increasing. The growth rate of IFP values from mainland China has increased to 9.56% in 2003. Four major categories, which dominated the 93.19% of the IFP market share from mainland China, are ordered by the market share as following: wooden & rattan furniture (39.53%), veneer & plywood (20.82%), pulp (17.18%), and wooden & rattan products (15.66%). The trend of that market has shifted from raw materials to semi-products or finished products. Although the trend of trade dependence in imported forest products between Taiwan and mainland China is increasing in current few years, the value of trade dependence decreased sharply since 1998. The structural dependence explained the increasing of trade dependence between Taiwan and Mainland China before 1997, and no obvious reason was recognized the trade dependence increasing during 1998-2003. The research indicated the trend of trade dependence between Taiwan and mainland China has shifted from structural dependence to relative interest dependence.