Global timber market review #1-2015

Dear colleagues, since 2015, the review of global timber trends will be published on the website in short only. Please consider subscription for the journal in order to get regular updates on the key events of the Russian timber industry and its export markets.

-Stagnant demand for logs in China led to price declines for US Northwest logs

-Swedish lumber producer Vida is investing into a sales company and warehouse in Australia

-UPM is making a big investment in log sorting at a spruce lumber mill

-In December 2014, Ilim Nordic Timber reached a 100,000 t milestone in loading sawn timber via the port of Wismar

-Finnish Forest Industries Federation member companies purchased from Finland’s privately owned forests around 31.1 million m3 of wood in 2014

-EU imports of Russian birch plywood were very steady in late 2014

-Japan’s housing starts dropped sharply in November

-There was a slight increase in imports of Siberian larch scantlings from Russia and China in the second half of 2014 into the EU

-US-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement expires in October 2015, which brings uncertainty to the lumber trade

More detailed review of global market trends of roundwood, lumber, wood panels and pellets as well as news of the Russian timber industry; exclusive articles and interviews; over 25 pages of price charts are available in our digital Russian Timber Journal.