Homag Group released the financial report for 2016, showing that it continued to grow in orders and sales. Continue reading "Homag Group’s turnover well over EUR 1 billion in 2016"
Article archive
Klausner restarted production at Florida sawmill
Klausner Lumber One has recently announced that it restarted production at the sawmill in Western Suwanee County, Florida, after it had temporarily laid off some employees and idled the sawmill back in January. Continue reading "Klausner restarted production at Florida sawmill"
New record for South China’s imports of wood and wood products from the US
South China's imports of wood and wood products from the US have increased y-o-y in the last 8 years. For whole 2016, the new annual import record rose to $700 million, accounting for about 30% of China’s total imports from the U.S. Continue reading "New record for South China’s imports of wood and wood products from the US"
India’s timber market increasingly interesting for the American softwood products
American softwood products exports to India amounted to $15.265 million, in the period January-October 2016. Continue reading "India’s timber market increasingly interesting for the American softwood products"
Tembec to invest $136 million in Quebec facilities
Tembec announced on the 24th of March a four-year $136 million capital investment program in its Québec facilities to improve competitiveness, centered on its specialty cellulose pulp operation at the Temiscaming manufacturing site. Continue reading "Tembec to invest $136 million in Quebec facilities"
Northern Europe pulp mills to revive businesses through by-products
Forestry firms in Northern Europe are trying to revive their pulp mill business by transforming by-products into glue, biofuel and carbon fiber for aircraft and wind turbines, considering the loss the paper business in favor of the internet.
Stora Enso, UPM-Kymmene, Metsa Group, SCA and Holmen are urged to look for more profitable uses for by-products they have mostly burned to help power the mills. Growing global demand for fossil-free materials is also helping to spur the innovation, Reuters reported.
Many of the companies haven't decided yet where to turn to on the market, considering that the research is still at the beginning. But there are some investors who believe that the industry might revive, after years of restructuring.
"If they can develop new materials to replace fossil based materials, the market is endless for them," said Sasja Beslik, head of sustainable finance at Nordea, one of the Nordic region's biggest asset managers and Stora Enso's seventh largest shareholder.
As Reuters reported, Stora Enso has already developed a refined version of lignin, a substance which accounts for at least a quarter of wood and binds tree fibers together, which is called kraft lignin. The company opened a kraft lignin plant in 2015, the first of its kind in the region, using a new technology developed in Sweden and marketed by Finland's Valmet, and decided to focus on using the material as a replacement for petroleum-derived phenols in glue.
The kraft lignin plant works at a capacity of 50,000 tonnes a year of refined kraft lignin and is integrated with its Sunila pulp mill in Finland. Kraft lignin differs from sulphonated lignin, an older-type industrial lignin which is derived from a less used pulping method, and used mainly in concrete. It's largest producer is Norway's Borregaard.
During the past decade, there has been a 25% drop in the European publication paper, but many Nordic export industry business have refocused their attention to other parts, such as packaging and hygiene products.
Many companies have focused on cellulose-based materials (greener textile fibers, nanocellulose, hemi-cellulose, etc). Also, the market for lignin-based carbon fiber is potentially large.
As Reuters reported, Metsa Fibre, part of Metsa Group which recently exited paper altogether, is building a 1.2 billion euro ($1.3 billion) pulp mill, a record investment for Finland's forest industry, able also to make a range of bioproducts including kraft lignin-based products.
UPM Kymmene, also engaged in multiple "bioinnovation" projects, is minded to follow Stora Enso in building a kraft lignin factory, said Christian Hubsch, head of lignin business at UPM's biochemicals division.
US lumber prices on the rise at the end of March
Trading in framing lumber in the US picked up last week, while the mills extended their orders and raised the prices. Continue reading "US lumber prices on the rise at the end of March"
UK: Hardwood’s sustainability message not helping sales
A UK Timber Trade Federation (TTF) conference on the UK hardwood market sponsored by The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) was held on 9 March. The conference aimed to provide a more accurate picture of the hardwood market in the UK and to inform the activities of the TTF which aims to revitalise the market development work of their National Hardwood Division (NHD) in co-operation with AHEC and other producer associations.
The TTF Conference suggested that those who believe that the environmental credentials of hardwood are a unique selling point offering an easy route to market, may need to think again.
Attitudes to sustainability expressed at the conference were typically muddled. The view overall seemed to be that while everyone wants “sustainability”, very few are willing to pay for it, or indeed are particularly interested in the details of how it is achieved in practice. Continue reading "UK: Hardwood’s sustainability message not helping sales"
Södra subsidiary Trivselhus signs contract for the construction of 52 multi-family houses
The Swedish woodworking company Trivselhus, a subsidiary of Södra, has signed a contract with MacFreeze, the Swedish property developer, to construct 52 two-storey, terraced multi-family houses in Kållered, in the municipality of Mölndal, with a total value of SEK 116 million. Continue reading "Södra subsidiary Trivselhus signs contract for the construction of 52 multi-family houses"
US hardwood exports to China reach record levels in 2016
US hardwood exports to the Sea and Greater China got to record levels for full year 2016, at $1.93 billion, an increase of 19% (y-o-y). This accounted for 55.2% of all global exports. Continue reading "US hardwood exports to China reach record levels in 2016"
Chinese wood products shipment to US fails quarantine regulations because of crating
According to Ningbo Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau in Zhejiang Province, both the volume and value of wood products exports by manufacturers based in Ningbo City increased in 2016 and the value of wood product exports topped US$410 million.
Markets such as the USA, Japan, France and the UK accounted for the bulk of exports but, overall, shipments were made to 140 different countries.
According to the Ningbo Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, a shipment of pianos from the City was rejected by the US Customs because the pianos were crated in timber that not been treated. This resulted in the exporters sustaining huge losses.
The Ningbo Bureau is paying now more attention to all aspects of shipments. Joint efforts between the city’s government departments, industry associations and enterprises are underway
The local authorities have assumed responsibility to inform enterprises of the latest trade regulations and are arranging training. The timber associations have formulated a code of conduct covering wood products processing and shipments with emphasis on wooden packaging.
Holmen to acquire Linghem sawmill from Rörvik Timber
Holmen has signed an agreement on the 21st of March, to acquire Linghem Sawmill from its present owner, Rörvik Timber. Continue reading "Holmen to acquire Linghem sawmill from Rörvik Timber"
Trimble acquired the forestry business of Savcor Oy
Trimble announced acquisition of the forestry business of Savcor Oy, a global supplier of forestry solutions for performance optimization and enterprise management. Trimble has also acquired Silvadata, a provider of cloud-based data, collaboration and workflow automation services to small- and medium-sized forestry companies. The acquisitions expand Trimble's global reach and complement Trimble's Connected Forest solutions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
According to the announcement, the acquisitions is expected to expand Trimble’s global reach and to complement Trimble’s Connected Forest solutions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Trimble’s Connected Forest solutions manage the full raw materials lifecycle of planning, planting, growing, harvesting, transporting and processing. The solutions improve decision making at every step—from forest to mill and from land acquisition to product delivery—by combining industry-specialized software and state-of-the-art hardware into solutions for land, forest and fiber management.
Ken Moen, general manager of Trimble’s Forestry Division, commented: “The Savcor and Silvadata acquisitions build upon our strategy to provide global customers with a complete end-to-end ecosystem for forest management, traceability and timber processing. Our fundamental focus is to provide integrated solutions that drive agility, improve efficiency and provide better visibility at each stage of the forest lifecycle.”
The company also acquired Silvadata, a provider of cloud-based data, collaboration and workflow automation services to small- and medium-sized forestry companies.
Tokyo biomass pellets summit to gather over 200 buyers and sellers
To be held in Tokyo on 15-18 May, the 8th edition of renowned Biomass Pellets Trade & Power summit promises latest updates on North Asia's biomass capacities, raw material imports, feedstock price trends and stiff competition between wood chips/pellet sellers from SE Asia, Europe and North America.
Japan and South Korea's strong buying demand for wood pellets to feed its existing and new biomass power capacities coming on-stream have led to increase in spot wood pellet prices and sellers vying for a share of these markets.
Aptly, the Tokyo summit calls on Japan's key biomass producers -- IPP eRex, that is expected to purchase 300,000 tons of palm shells and biofuel this year, to discuss its expectations on biomass requirements and Sumitomo Corporation, that has an upcoming 50MW biomass plant, to share about Japan's demand and imports of wood pellets, wood chips and PKS.
Addressing South Korea's biomass power market is Hanyang Corporation while opportunities in mainland China and Taiwan are provided by China Renewable Energy Industry Association and Indufor.
Stakeholders from the biomass sellers' side at the summit are -- PKS trader Asia Resource Partners, Thailand's BioPellets, Canada's wood pellet producer/distributor Pinnacle Renewable Energy, USA's Enviva, Baltics' Graanul Invest as well as Australia's Altus Renewables -- with many of them expected to join a 'Global Wood Pellet Producers Panel' discussing top wood pellet supply regions of 2016 and insights into pellet pricing.
Even more interesting are discussions on 'sustainable pellet supplies to Asian markets' as well as pellet pricing competition between North America, Russia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. Other speakers at the summit are IHI Corporation, Hawkins Wright, Malaysia Biomass Industries Confederation, Ata Marie Group, Fuji Biomass Energy, US Industrial Pellet Association (USIPA), Voyage Power Fuji Keizai and Argus Media.
This 2017 summit features two pre-conference workshops -- 'Experience in Large Scale Co-Firing & with Various Biomass Types' and 'From Residues to Plantations: Changes in Biomass Supply & Sourcing to Meet the North Asian Demand'.
Organized by Centre for Management Technology (CMT), the 8th Biomass Pellets Trade & Power is supported by Independent Power Producers Forum plus sponsors Wood Pellet Association of Canada, Sumitomo Corporation, Astec Inc, Enviva and Valmet.
UK hardwood import market share
A UK Timber Trade Federation (TTF) conference on the UK hardwood market sponsored by The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) was held on 9 March. The conference aimed to provide a more accurate picture of the hardwood market in the UK and to inform the activities of the TTF which aims to revitalise the market development work of their National Hardwood Division (NHD) in co-operation with AHEC and other producer associations.
Statistics shown at the TTF conference indicated there has yet to be any significant switch from the US to Europe in UK temperate hardwood imports. In fact, the long-term trend in rising US share of UK hardwood imports continued last year. Continue reading "UK hardwood import market share"
Latest prices for hardwood and softwood lumber in France
| FRANCE LUMBER PRICES for the 4th quarter 2016 | ||||||
| Prices 2016-Q4 | Prices2015-Q4 € | Prices2016-Q3€ | Prices2016-Q4€ | Index | Change2016-Q42016-Q3 | Change2016-Q42015-Q4 |
| OAK Lumber Index base 100 : Oct 2006 S20 | ||||||
| UNEDGED LOGS - QBA - Logs, joinery, (KD), length 3 m + | ||||||
| Diameter 40 to 49cm (thickness 34mm) m3 |
1073 | 1105 | 1 104 | 127,5 | 0,0% | 3,0% |
| Diameter 50cm et + (thickness 50mm) m3 |
1200 | 1 228 | 1 251 | 129,0 | 1,9% | 4,3% |
| LOGS - QB1 - High-value joinery work, 6 months open air drying, length 3 m + | ||||||
| Diameter 40 to 49cm (thickness 27/34mm) m3 |
827 | 833 | 848 | 121,3 | 1,8% | 2,6% |
| Diameter 50 to 80cm (thickness 54mm) m3 | 964 | 966 | 950 | 122,9 | -1,6% | -1,4% |
| SELECTED LOGS - QSA/QS1- (KD) | ||||||
| Thickness 27 to 54mm - length 2m + | ||||||
| Bare 18cm (tolerance 10cm +) m3 |
862 | 884 | 886 | 132,9 | 0,2% | 2,8% |
| SELECTED LOGS - QS2 - 6 months open air drying | ||||||
| Thickness 27 to 54mm - length 2m + | ||||||
| Bare 18cm (tolerance 10cm +) m3 |
628 | 623 | 624 | 138,0 | 0,1% | -0,6% |
| STRIPS (80x27) OR EDGED (100x27) QF1a - 3 months AD | ||||||
| Length 30 to 50cm m3 | 622 | 612 | 618 | 105,5 | 1,0% | -0,7% |
| Length 60 to 90cm m3 | 825 | 843 | 872 | 125,9 | 3,4% | 5,7% |
| Length 1m + m3 | 929 | 988 | 1 019 | 128,9 | 3,2% | 9,8% |
| STRIPS (80x27) OR EDGED (100x27) QF1b - 3 months open air drying | ||||||
| Length 1,50m + m3 | 641 | 707 | 737 | 118,7 | 4,2% | 14,9% |
| EDGED QF2- Thickness 27 mm - length 1,50 m + | ||||||
| Width 100 to 150mm m3 | 684 | 788 | 771 | 129,1 | -2,2% | 12,7% |
| Width 160mm + m3 | 738 | 888 | 888 | 145,8 | 0,0% | 20,3% |
| EDGED QF2/QF3 X – Thickness 27 mm, length 1,50 m +, 3 months AD | ||||||
| Width 160mm + m3 | 630 | 666 | 666 | 131,6 | 0,1% | 5,8% |
| EDGED BEAMS QP1 - Standard beams (fresh) | ||||||
| Camber to max. two edges, red core and sap tolerance | ||||||
| Measure 15x15 - length 4 to 5m m3 | 517 | 545 | 553 | 135,8 | 1,4% | 6,9% |
| Measure 25x25 - length 4 to 5m m3 | 562 | 586 | 605 | 132,7 | 3,2% | 7,6% |
| SPRUCE Lumber (fresh) Index base 100 : July 1990 S30 | ||||||
| Quality 0 - Edged, in all widths | ||||||
| Thickness 27mm m3 | 279 | 304 | 304 | 109,5 | 1,4% | 10,5% |
| Quality 1 - Edged, in all widths | ||||||
| Boards 2 to 5,50m - thickness 27mm m3 | 244 | 253 | 258 | 116,6 | 2,0% | 5,7% |
| Quality 2 | ||||||
| Scantlings 75x225 or 63x160 - length 3 to 5m m3 |
190 | 189 | 188 | 160,6 | -0,5% | -1,1% |
| Beams 63x75 or 50x75 - length 3 to 4,50m m3 | 200 | 199 | 197 | 106,1 | -0,6% | -1,1% |
| Mouldings 27x27 - length 2 to 5m m3 | 228 | 226 | 224 | 109,9 | -0,9% | -1,5% |
| Quality 3 - Boards edged timber all width | ||||||
| Unedged beams Thickness 18/27mm m3 |
140 | 142 | 140 | 100,5 | -1,3% - | -0,3% |
| Quality 4 | ||||||
| Scantlings m3 |
143 | 139 | 137 | 101,0 - | -0,9% | -3,9% |
| Boards any widths Thickness 27mm m3 | 137 | 125 | 120 | 96,0 | -4,1% | 12,2% |
| Value added for extra-lengths 5 to 8 m | 10 | 11 | 10 | - | -4,0% | 0,6% |
| €/m | ||||||
| MARITIME PINE Lumber (fresh) Index base 100 : July 1990 S50 | ||||||
| Quality 0A - edged, in all widths, lengths 2 to 2,70m | ||||||
| 3/4 Sidings Thickness 27/32mm m3 | 326 | 333 | 335 | 110,4 | 0,4% | 2,5% |
| Quality 0 - edged, in all widths, lengths 2 to 2,70m | ||||||
| Thickness 27mm m3 | 240 | 244 | 245 | 118,4 | 0,4% | 2,1% |
| Thickness 32mm m3 | 271 | 267 | 266 | 125,5 | -0,4% | -1,8% |
| Quality 1 - edged, in all widths, lengths 2 to 2,70m | ||||||
| Thickness 27mm m3 | 211 | 199 | 196 | 125,6 | -1,5% | -7,3% |
| Thickness 32mm m3 | 240 | 241 | 244 | 147,0 | 1,1% | 1,7% |
| Quality 2 | ||||||
| Scantlings - length 3 to 5m m3 | 258 | 240 | 239 | 144,0 | -0,4% | -7,4% |
| Quality 3 - Boards thickness 27 mm - all widths | ||||||
| length 2 to 5m m3 | 157 | 155 | 159 | 129,6 | 2,6% | 1,6% |
| Beams m3 | 140 | 142 | 144 | 113,4 | 1,3% | 2,6% |
| Quality 4 | ||||||
| Boards 27mm m3 | 126 | 119 | 120 | 127,7 | 1,0% | -4,9% |
| PINE Lumber(fresh) Index base 100 : July 1990 S40 | ||||||
| Quality 0A | ||||||
| Logs All thicknesss m3 | 344 | 320 | 322 | 122,8 | 0,5% | -6,5% |
| Quality OB | ||||||
| Logs All thicknesss m3 | 291 | 288 | 287 | 124,6 | -0,5% | -1,5% |
| Quality OA | ||||||
| Edged Thickness 18, 27mm +, Width 100mm + m3 |
301 | 291 | 290 | 97,6 | -0,3% | -3,5% |
| Quality 0 | ||||||
| Edged Thickness 18, 27mm +, Width 100mm + m3 | 292 | 292 | 291 | 121,8 | -0,3% | -0,3% |
| Quality 1 | ||||||
| Edged Thickness 18, 27mm +, Width 100mm + m3 |
244 | 249 | 252 | 127,3 | 1,1% | 3,3% |
| Quality 2 | ||||||
| Scantlings 63x163 or 175, 65x175 or 180, 75x165, 80x230 Length 3 to 5m m3 |
194 | 196 | 200 | 116,4 | 2,3% | 3,2% |
| Beams : 76x76, 80x80 Length 3 to 5m m3 |
215 | 201 | 204 | 114,4 | 1,2% | 5,1% |
| Wood frame construction and glulam Price for drying and planning not included, length 2 to 4m m3 | 240 | 217 | 220 | 110,0 | 1,5% | -8,5% |
| Quality 3 | ||||||
| Boards - Thickness 27 mm - length up to 3 m All widths m3 |
128 | 128 | 127 | 96,9 | -0,8% | -0,8% |
| Scantlings : 65x165 or 80x230 m3 |
149 | 151 | 143 | 100,2 | -5,0% | -3,7% |
| Quality 4 | ||||||
| Boards 27mm m3 | 147 | 140 | 139 | 113,0 | -0,4% | -5,5% |
| Scantlings m3 | 154 | 149 | 145 | 112,4 | -2,6% | -5,7% |
| BEECH Lumber Index base 100 : July 1990 S70 | ||||||
| Logs (3 months drying) | ||||||
| Thickness 27/54mm , diameter 40cm +, length 3m + Quality FB1 m3 | 308 | 310 | 309 | 106,6 | 0,3% | 0,3% |
| Quality FB2 m3 | 207 | 210 | 209 | 96,1 | -0,5% | 0,7% |
| POPLAR Lumber Index base 100 : July 1990 S80 | ||||||
| Edged | ||||||
| Thickness : 18, 22, 27mm, length : 1 to 2,67m (10% de 1 to 1,33m), Width : 10 to 25cm (average 17/18cm) | ||||||
| Grade 1 (choice and wood quality) open air drying m3 | 278 | 298 | 296 | 129,9 | -0,6% | 6,4% |
| Grade 2 (bedding quality) open air drying m3 | 211 | 216 | 217 | 94,8 | 0,5% | 2,6% |
| Grade 3 (packaging-pallets quality) fresh m3 | 160 | 159 | 161 | 112,5 | 1,4% | 0,3% |
| DOUGLAS FIR Lumber (fresh) Index base 100 : Jan. 2005 S60 | ||||||
| Grade 1 - Edged - length 3 to 5m | ||||||
| 42 or 52x150 to 230 m3 | 257 | 257 | 257 | 136,7 | 0,0% | 0,1% |
| Grade 2 - Scantlings - length 3 to 5m | ||||||
| 63x150 or 63x175 m3 | 215 | 203 | 207 | 126,9 | 1,8% | -3,9% |
| 63 or 75x200 to 225 m3 | 221 | 217 | 222 | 132,4 | 2,5% | 0,8% |
| 63 or 75x250 to 300 m3 | 247 | 247 | 249 | 129,5 | 0,8% | 0,6% |
| Value added for extra-lengths 5 to 8 m | 16 | 17 | 17 | - | -1,8% | 5,7% |
| €/m | ||||||
| PALLET LUMBER (fresh) Index base 100 : Jan. 2005 | ||||||
| All hard- and softwood species - all quality grades | ||||||
| Boards in fixed width – solid wood Frame timber – longitudinally sawn All thicknesss 18/27mm m3 | 118,2 | 0,3% | -1,3% | |||
| except for maritime pine m3 | - | 0,5% | -0,5% | |||
EPA postpones formaldehyde regulation
EPA has recently issued a notice specifying its intention to delay the effective date of five EPA regulations, including the formaldehyde regulation, to May. Continue reading "EPA postpones formaldehyde regulation"
Estonia: Roundwood prices in January 2017
The roundwood prices in Estonia mostly decreased during January 2017, as compared to last year. Continue reading "Estonia: Roundwood prices in January 2017"
Austrian wood pellets price keeps on going up in March
Enplus A1 pellets' price in Austria reached an average of EUR 240.1 per tonne in March 2017. Continue reading "Austrian wood pellets price keeps on going up in March"
Binderholz to close acquisition of Finnish Anaika Wood Group’s assets by the end of March
Binderholz Nordic Oy will close the acquisition of Anaika Wood Group’s assets in Lieksa / Kevätniemi by March 31,2017. Continue reading "Binderholz to close acquisition of Finnish Anaika Wood Group’s assets by the end of March"
