Global timber market review #5-2015

– Lumber prices declined for much of the fall of 2014 in both Sweden and Finland, because the export market weakened in the second half of the year, WRQ reports

– According to ITTO, January housing starts in Japan totaled 68,000 units, down from the 76,000 units in December 2014.

– In its financial report, Koskisen Group says that the general economic situation in Finland weakened further in 2014, whereas in Europe the crisis sentiment shifted to cautious growth expectations during the year.

– US sawmills increased production by 4.5% in 2014 to 31.307 billion board ft. (bbf) or 73,8 million m3.

– In the first two months of 2015, member companies of the Finnish Forest Industry Federation (FFIF) bought 4.5 million cubic meters of wood.

– The Swedish timber company Södra aims to become in the future a complete supplier of wood products on a project basis. On April 1, Södra will therefore open a project department in Karlstad, Sweden.

– Lumber production in Canada increased by 1.22% in 2014.

– Total Japanese imports of North American logs in 2014 was 3,047 million m3, 10.8% less than 2013.

– Sia Broceni Pellets, a subsidiary of Estonian company AS Graanul Invest, has received permission from the local government to build a pellet factory in Latvia.

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.