Global Trends Review

Consumption of softwood lumber in Europe is slowly increasing from a very low level, according to Fordaq which quotes study by International Forest Industries (IFI) published at woodnet.se. The sharp decline by 32% in past years was mainly...

Canadian Norbord company is going to expand its Inverness OSB mill in UK in order to meet an anticipated 50% increase in OSB consumption during the next decade, TTJ reported. Earlier the company completed a detailed feasibility study...

At the beginning of the year the average price of wood pellets in Germany has slightly decreased, as the German Energy Wood and Pellet Association (DEPV) reported. January price is €284.93/t, which is 0.2% lower than in December...

After eleven months of 2013, housing starts in Japan were up 10% on last year’s figures, Holzkurier says. This makes 2013 the strongest construction year in Japan ever since 2008. As a preliminary total estimate, 960,000 housing units...

Euroconstruct forecasts a decline of 3% by comparison to the preceding year in European construction output to €1.3 billion, reports EUWID Wood. This estimation made at the end of November reflects a slight adjustment downwards from the estimation...

The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced the establishment of a Timber and Wood Products Spot Trading Platform, ITTO reported. This trading platform will be open nationally and will provide a comprehensive timber industry service...

The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) announced that the residential construction volume in Europe is expected to fall this year before a slight increase in 2014, TTJ reported. “While a short- or mid-term recovery is unlikely in...

At the Timber Market conference, organised by the Swedish Forest Industries Federation, it was reported that global timber market growth is expected in 2014, but protectionism in some markets constitutes a problem, TTJ said. Swedish exports to North...

Softwood log prices in the eastern departments of France have been growing steadily for several months, Fordaq reported. At an auction, a 5% increase for pine and spruce was registered in November compared to September. Presently, pine logs...

The Danish government has issued a report on its domestic market for wood pellets with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network. According to the report quoted by Fordaq, Denmark is the number one importer of...

Pollmeier is expected to start up its new beech LVL factory in Germany in February 2014. The launch of sales is scheduled for March, says Holzkurier journal quoting company CEO Ralf Pollmeier. Major equipment is already installed. The...

Scandinavian woodworking companies report improving market conditions, higher selling prices and lower raw material costs. Their North American colleagues also publish very positive results, despite lumber prices falling back from Q2, TTJ reported. Setra’s UK sawn timber sales...