Global timber market review #1-2016

– UK’s forestry, wood and wood products sector is picking up after five years of low demand and little expansion, according to the UK Timber Trade Federation Statistical Review. A 10% rise in UK timber and panel products consumption takes total figure in 2014 to nearly 16 million m3.

– Finnish sawmills are seeking for ways to increase their sales in international markets. Supporting the internationalization of Finnish companies, Finpro consulting group launched cooperation with the Finnish Sawmills Association in a programme Wood from Finland to double exports of Finnish lumber to China. The programme was funded by the Finnish Ministry of Employment and Economy and sawmilling companies. Two local experts are already hired to help in finding market opportunities.

– Global production of all major wood products is showing its largest growth since the global economic downturn of 2008-2009, according to new data published by FAO. It is worth noting that the wood industry was among the hardest hit by the crisis. In 2014, growth in wood products, including industrial roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels and pulp and paper, ranged from 1 to 5 percent, surpassing the pre-recession levels of 2007. The fastest growth was registered in Asia-Pacific and Latin America and Caribbean.

– A weak business climate that Swedish sawmills have faced for many years and high raw wood prices are two main reasons behind Rörvik Timber board’s decision to begin negotiations on closing down Sandsjöfors and Tvärskog sawmills. The company’s sawmills have been going through a period of heavy losses for several years, while the measures taken to improve profitability have not been fruitful.

– At the start of 2016, the Austrian Binderholz Group has acquired 100% of shares in Vapo Timber Oy, Finland, having two sawmills in Lieksa and Nurmes. The sites are located in Central Eastern Finland and produce 400,000 m3 of dimension lumber per year jointly. Apart from the volume of spruce and pine raw materials, major factors for the decision to purchase the two sawmills include the fact that they both have a good technical basis and there is also sufficient room for expansion with future investments, Binderholz stated.

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.