Building New Market Pathways for Canadian Wood in China’s Glulam Sector
China’s mass timber market continues to expand, and we are seeing solid progress in positioning more Canadian species in the glulam supply chain, not just Douglas fir.
Over the past year, we have seen growing interest and early adoption of Hem Fir, Yellow Cedar, and SPF, meaning spruce, pine, fir, among Chinese manufacturers and project teams. Douglas fir remains the primary species for higher grade laminations, but the market is clearly looking for additional Canadian options that can support scale, supply flexibility, and cost competitiveness while still meeting performance requirements.
In 2025, two manufacturers began small batch glulam production using Hem Fir and Yellow Cedar laminations. The volumes are still modest, but they are already being applied in demonstration projects, which is an important signal. When producers start building with a material rather than just discussing it, it usually means the pathway is real and the next step is repeatability.
On the technical side, testing in China has produced strong performance results. Mechanically graded Hem Fir laminations are showing excellent bending strength and stiffness. Yellow Cedar is also performing well, and it continues to stand out for its durability and appearance, particularly for projects where exposed applications and visual quality matter.
The next major step is our work on multi species beam products, including mixed layups that combine SPF and Douglas fir in a single beam. This is a practical direction for the market. It creates a pathway where Douglas fir can be used where top structural performance is required, while SPF can support volume, availability, and cost targets. Our upcoming testing program will help confirm performance and should give manufacturers and designers the confidence to specify these mixed beams more broadly.
We are also seeing continued momentum through real projects. Demonstration builds using Hem-Fir and Yellow Cedar glulam are moving forward across multiple regions, including outdoor pavilions, hybrid structures that combine Yellow Cedar glulam with Hem Fir CLT elements, and institutional buildings that have selected Hem Fir glulam for its appearance and structural properties. Larger public projects are also progressing through design and are expected to start construction in 2026.
China is growing its engineered wood capacity and is actively exploring additional Canadian species. Hem-Fir and Yellow Cedar are proving they can deliver the performance, and they’re already being demonstrated in real buildings. As standards alignment and cost clarity improve, the market pathway becomes much easier to scale.