Global timber market review #19-2016

– In July 2016, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector increased by 3.1% in the Euro area and by 1.0% in the EU28, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the Euro area, the growth is due to building construction rising by 3.2% and civil engineering by 2.9%.

– Japanese housing starts grew for the second straight month in August, though at a slower-than-expected pace: by 2.5% year on year, much slower than July’s 8.9% spike.

– According to the State Forestry Administration of China, quoted by ITTO, the performance of the country’s forest industry was good in the first half of 2016 with the total value of production rising 8% to RMB 2.58 trillion ($383 billion). Of the total, the value of the primary sector output grew 8%, secondary processors saw a 3% rise and the output of the tertiary sector expanded a massive 25% compared to the same period in 2015.

– The Austrian sawmilling group Binderholz has signed a contract for the purchase of the Finnish planing mill Höyläämö Suomipuu Oy as of September 30.

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.