According to statistics from the Taicang transportation bureau, Taicang Port imported about 6.53 million square meters of timber last year, making Taicang the biggest port for timber imports nationwide. In the first quarter of this year, Taicang Port imported about 1.82 million square meters of timber worth $337.5 million, an increase of 67.09 percent.

Since November 2001, when Taicang Port began importing timber, it has been taking advantage of its location and transport network, as well as improving operating, quarantining, warehousing and processing ability. Berths for timber have increased from 2 to 12, container yards from 320,000 to 1.36 million square meters, and handling efficiency from 3,000 to 20,000 square meters per day.

Taicang Port has attracted over 20 countries and areas for timber import business, covering a wide range of timber, including traditional timber such as Canadian pine and North American fir, and rare timber such as yellow sandal and rosewood. The timber business extends to Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, Shanghai, Huzhou and Jiaxing.

The rapid development boosts not only port operating charges and customs duties, but also other related industries like transportation, warehousing and sorting. It provides more than 2,000 jobs and generates direct and indirect economic benefits of 1.5 billion yuan.

Recently Taicang Port has been accelerating its industrial transformation and upgrading, and expanding timber import for containers. More clean timber has replaced logs. In the first quarter of this year, Taicang imported about 1.03 million square meters of clean timber, accounting for 57 percent of the total quantity.