The price of EN plus wood pellets in Germany during October 2016 reached an average of EUR 226.37/tonne. This represents a 0.9% increase as compared to September 2016 and a -3.2% decline over September 2015.
Wood pellets have a price advantage over natural gas of around 28.5% and of 17.1% to heating oil, as shown in the data provided by the German Energy Wood and Pellet Association (DEPV).
Continue reading "Germany's wood pellets 17% cheaper than fuel oil in October"
Article archive
Germany’s wood pellets 17% cheaper than fuel oil in October
The price of EN plus wood pellets in Germany during October 2016 reached an average of EUR 226.37/tonne. This represents a 0.9% increase as compared to September 2016 and a -3.2% decline over September 2015.
Wood pellets have a price advantage over natural gas of around 28.5% and of 17.1% to heating oil, as shown in the data provided by the German Energy Wood and Pellet Association (DEPV).
Continue reading "Germany’s wood pellets 17% cheaper than fuel oil in October"
Austrian wood-based panels exports on a slight descending path this year
Austrian wood-based panels (particleboard, MDF and blockboard) exports declined by -1% (from €618 million in Jan.-July. 2015, down to €615 million in Jan.-July. 2016).
The main destinations for the Austrian panels were: Germany, where the exports decreased by -11% (from €199 million in Jan.-July. 2015, to €178 million in Jan.-July. 2016); Italy, where exports rose by 1% (reaching €49 million in the mentioned period); and France, with a decrease of -6% (€43 million).
Austria’s particleboard exports, in the first seven months of 2016 decreased by -5% (from €327 million in Jan.-July 2015, to €309 million in Jan.-July 2016).
MDF exports in Jan.-July 2016 rose by 3% (up to €179 million), over the same period of 2015. The top three countries where Austria exported MDF are: Germany (a -9% decrease to €37 million ) and the US (an 8% increase to €26 million).
The exports of blockboard remained at the same value of €102 million. The main destinations for the Austrian blockboard exports are: Germany (-2% decrease to €27 million), Switzerland (-3% decrease to €26 million ) and France (-6% decrease to €15 million).
TOP 10 Destinations
Particleboard,OSB,MDF,Plywood,Blockboard exported from Austria to... (in EUR )
| Destination | I-VII 2015 | I-VII 2016 | Change in % | |||
|
439,490,500 | 413,417,169 | -6 % | |||
|
199,135,450 | 178,122,100 | -11 % | |||
|
48,986,400 | 49,318,489 | 1 % | |||
|
46,657,561 | 43,740,010 | -6 % | |||
|
31,830,990 | 32,047,281 | 1 % | |||
|
24,290,840 | 21,495,670 | -12 % | |||
|
88,589,260 | 88,693,620 | 0 % | |||
|
72,820,611 | 76,875,430 | 6 % | |||
|
43,935,431 | 46,029,520 | 5 % | |||
|
8,124,250 | 8,722,600 | 7 % | |||
|
4,353,950 | 3,643,420 | -16 % | |||
|
2,622,600 | 3,594,630 | 37 % | |||
|
2,798,820 | 3,511,270 | 25 % | |||
|
10,985,560 | 11,373,990 | 4 % | |||
|
1,552,990 | 2,090,180 | 35 % | |||
|
258,280 | 965,930 | 274 % | |||
|
828,630 | 836,470 | 1 % | |||
|
349,820 | 256,860 | -27 % | |||
|
116,260 | 26,650 | -77 % | |||
|
- | 4,270 | % | |||
|
2,058,330 | 2,329,930 | 13 % | |||
|
1,318,930 | 1,454,410 | 10 % | |||
|
148,010 | 306,470 | 107 % | |||
|
372,030 | 249,010 | -33 % | |||
|
11,160 | 88,760 | 695 % | |||
|
19,370 | 64,080 | 231 % | |||
|
188,830 | 167,200 | -11 % | |||
|
44,886,340 | 48,808,989 | 9 % | |||
|
26,389,310 | 28,730,659 | 9 % | |||
|
18,497,030 | 20,078,330 | 9 % | |||
|
8,732,100 | 6,355,190 | -27 % | |||
|
7,607,500 | 5,095,830 | -33 % | |||
|
548,720 | 918,660 | 67 % | |||
|
384,930 | 244,000 | -37 % | |||
|
- | 31,780 | % | |||
|
20,420 | 24,200 | 19 % | |||
|
170,530 | 40,720 | -76 % | |||
|
10,093,590 | 10,468,890 | 4 % | |||
|
6,411,270 | 7,313,710 | 14 % | |||
|
1,454,230 | 1,207,830 | -17 % | |||
|
1,079,850 | 813,440 | -25 % | |||
|
702,880 | 681,210 | -3 % | |||
|
291,890 | 300,040 | 3 % | |||
|
153,470 | 152,660 | -1 % | |||
|
4,418,120 | 4,702,520 | 6 % | |||
|
875,580 | 1,286,430 | 47 % | |||
|
765,410 | 981,450 | 28 % | |||
|
559,880 | 595,300 | 6 % | |||
|
508,680 | 475,900 | -6 % | |||
|
715,760 | 345,410 | -52 % | |||
|
992,810 | 1,018,030 | 3 % | |||
|
31,199,210 | 44,088,990 | 41 % | |||
|
22,540,800 | 29,578,790 | 31 % | |||
|
1,541,980 | 6,431,160 | 317 % | |||
|
4,024,780 | 4,902,330 | 22 % | |||
|
401,270 | 854,140 | 113 % | |||
|
261,500 | 420,590 | 61 % | |||
|
2,428,880 | 1,901,980 | -22 % | |||
|
2,923,130 | 5,715,290 | 96 % | |||
|
2,642,650 | 5,486,900 | 108 % | |||
|
186,010 | 117,940 | -37 % | |||
|
83,130 | 82,060 | -1 % | |||
|
9,480 | 16,600 | 75 % | |||
|
- | 11,790 | % | |||
|
1,860 | - | -100 % | |||
|
298,780 | 407,480 | 36 % | |||
|
296,680 | 407,480 | 37 % | |||
|
2,100 | - | -100 % | |||
| TOTAL | 618,473,700 | 615,260,058 | -1 % |
The product Particle Board, OSB, MDF, Plywood, Blockboard consists of following HS Codes: 441011, 441012, 44111, 44123, 44129; Data source: Eurostat
Hanjin shipping bankruptcy to cause surging shipping costs; affect timber companies
It has been reported that the bankruptcy of the Hanjin shipping line has thrown ports and retailers around the world into confusion.
Recently written notices were received from shipping companies and agents that the prices for ocean shipping from North America to Asia will increase as of 1 November 2016. Continue reading "Hanjin shipping bankruptcy to cause surging shipping costs; affect timber companies"
Canada to bring softwood lumber fight at WTO
Canada is ready to fight the softwood lumber tariffs possibly imposed by the United States, in front of the World Trade Organization, if there can’t be reached any negotiation settlement. Continue reading "Canada to bring softwood lumber fight at WTO"
New Zealand timber industry stays strong despite challenges
The New Zealand timber industry is in a good demand cycle despite the challenges that’s facing at the moment. There is a very good domestic construction industry, especially in Auckland and the demand for timber in NZ hasn’t been this good in a lot of time. Continue reading "New Zealand timber industry stays strong despite challenges"
Vietnamese wood industry to boom with new free trade agreements
New free trade agreements will help the wood industry in Vietnam boost, as it’s seen by Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (Viforest). Continue reading "Vietnamese wood industry to boom with new free trade agreements"
Estonia: Timber industry production at all time high
The production volumes in the Estonian timber industry today are at the highest level of all time.
Over the last 5 years, the production has increased by 28%, while in the European Union as a whole it has dropped by 2%. The sub-sectors where entrepreneurs managed to increase export volumes the most in 2015 were wooden pellets (32%), prefabricated timber houses (21%) and plywood (19%).
The investments made give reasons to expect that the export volumes of plywood will keep increasing this year as well, and new sawmills are about to be completed in various locations in Estonia. The financial performance of the Estonian timber industry has been strong and the foundation for new growth has been laid.
Expectations of timber Estonian entrepreneurs for 2016
What are the turnovers and profits forecast by entrepreneurs? Are investments made and for what purpose? Do they need labour and what skills are they looking for? Continue reading "Estonia: Timber industry production at all time high"
International Softwood Conference 2016 in Paris: Positive outlook for the softwood timber markets
On the 13th and 14th October 2016 the 64th edition of the International Softwood Conference was held in the facilities of the Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel & Conference Center. This year's conference had one of the highest attendance ever - almost 200 participants -, and it was hosted by the French Timber Trade Association (Le Commerce du Bois - LCB), the French National Organization of Sawmills (Fédération Nationale du Bois - FNB), and, as usual, by the European Organization of the Sawmill Industries (EOS) and the European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF). Continue reading "International Softwood Conference 2016 in Paris: Positive outlook for the softwood timber markets"
Chinese wood flooring losing share in Europe
Imports of wood flooring from China, by far the EU’s largest single external supplier of this commodity, suffered a set-back in the EU market in 2015 falling 7.4% to 17.3 million m2, the lowest level since 2005.
The downward trend has continued this year, with a further 9% fall to 7.9 million m2 in the first 6 months of 2016. (see chart).
To some extent the decline in EU imports of wood flooring from China in 2016 has been offset by rising imports from other countries. However, all the gains made in the EU market in 2016 have been by temperate countries and no tropical country has benefited from China’s loss of market share. Continue reading "Chinese wood flooring losing share in Europe"
US wood pellets exports to Europe still on a booming upward trend
US wood pellets exports to the European Union countries continue to increase. Thus, the EU countries imported 31% more wood pellets from the US during January-July 2016, as compared to the corresponding period of 2015.
The United Kingdom is the top importer of US wood pellets and its imports increased by 40% in the mentioned period, amounting to 2,6 million tonnes.
According to the Eurostat latest statistics, Belgium's wood pellets imports from the US reached 317,000 tonnes, coming in second place after UK. Yet, Belgium's imports decreased by -8% as compared to January-July 2015, when the country imported 343,000 tonnes of wood pellets from US.
France boosted its wood pellets imports as the country imported a volume of 38,000 tonnes.
US exports to Italy decreased by -35%, to 11,000 tonnes in the mentioned period of 2016.
TOP 10 Importing Countries
Wood pellets imported from USA by... (in tons )
| Importing Country | I-VII 2015 | I-VII 2016 | Change in % | |||
|
2,281,888 | 2,993,950 | 31 % | |||
|
1,857,547 | 2,598,769 | 40 % | |||
|
343,369 | 317,207 | -8 % | |||
|
359 | 38,858 | % | |||
|
32,959 | 22,058 | -33 % | |||
|
17,655 | 11,425 | -35 % | |||
|
29,999 | 5,634 | -81 % | |||
| TOTAL | 2,281,888 | 2,993,950 | 31 % |
The product Wood pellets consists of following HS Codes: 440131,44013020; Data source: Eurostat
Researchers develop up-to-date forest resource information technology for Russia
Russian and Finnish researchers are currently developing a competitive solution for the production and use of up-to-date forest resource information in the Russian market. The development work combines Finnish forest planning competence with forest resource data collected by unmanned drones.
The project is lead by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) and its aim is to reduce the amount of field work and the resultant costs by combining information from three sources in the collection of forest resource data: satellite imagery, imaging by unmanned drones and sample plot measurements.
Eugene Lopatin, senior scientist at Luke, said that the forest resource data collection method under development is competitive and innovative in conditions where roads are poor and road network coverage limits measurements in the field.
Up-to-date data on forest resources is available for less than 10% of Russia’s forest area. Outdated forest resource data of questionable quality is a problem, since, in the worst case scenario, companies are forced to base their investment decisions on guesswork.
The solution is being developed under the new project “Eastern Finnish competence provides a competitive solution for the management of up-to-date forest resource information in Russia” (ISKRA), a study of the cost-efficiency of the latest technology and adapting Finnish forest planning solutions to Russian conditions. Forest resource data collection will be piloted in forest areas leased by a Finnish company in the Republic of Karelia.
To promote the export of know-how, the project will produce a forest stand simulator in Russian that can be used to demonstrate the effects of different forest management alternatives on total roundwood removals and economic profitability, for example. In addition, optimized forest management options will be produced for a pilot company and a prototype program developed for the preparation of a Russian forest plan.
Creating demand in Russia, Finnish forest expertise appreciated
Russia is a large and developing market area for Finnish forest bioeconomic know-how, particularly since the goal of Russia’s forest policy is to adopt intensive forestry methods, in which Finland is seen as a benchmark. Finnish forestry know-how is well known and appreciated in Russia, but the export of Finnish expertise has been relatively modest. Access to the Russian market requires better productisation of know-how and references.
"The transition to intensive forestry is necessary, particularly in north-west Russia which has a large timber-processing industry. To secure the forests' future timber supply, companies must therefore begin intensive timber production. Up-to-date information on forest resources is a basic requirement for this," says Sari Karvinen, research scientist at Luke.
The development and testing of a method suitable for Russia is being facilitated by funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the Regional Council of North Karelia. Companies will continue with the commercialization of the results after the project.
Lumber prices in the US face uncertainty after softwood trade agreement expiry
Framing lumber sales have failed to meet the expectations until this far in October. Price trends and the traders' outlooks were left confused, as the standstill period under the expired Softwood Lumber Agreement came to an end at midweek. Continue reading "Lumber prices in the US face uncertainty after softwood trade agreement expiry"
The current state of the European wood pellet market
While the EU produces about 50% of world production, EU demand represents about 75% of the market. In 2015, total EU consumption was 20.5 MMT of which about 65 percent was used for heating and 35 percent for power.
Residential use for heating is a relatively stable market compared to industrial use for power generation. About 60 percent of the pellet demand is estimated to be for household use. However, the past three winters have been relatively mild and coupled with the low prices for fossil inputs, has tempered the use of pellets for residential heating.
Based on a report recently filed with the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service’s Global Agricultural Continue reading "The current state of the European wood pellet market"
China’s hunger for wood to create advantage for Finnish sawmills
Wood construction in China is forecast to grow rapidly. Thus, the country has become one of the top export destinations of the sawmilling industry in Finland, reaching fourth place as starting of 2015.
According to the Finnish Forest Association (FFA), Continue reading "China’s hunger for wood to create advantage for Finnish sawmills"
Oversupply crisis in the Japanese lumber industry
A surge in the yen, following the Brexit effects, has caused serious trouble regarding millions of hectares of prized Japanese forest.
There is an ongoing oversupply crisis in the domestic Japanese lumber industry, which has attracted a “promotion of wood” act of parliament in 2010 and construction code deregulation in 2014, Continue reading "Oversupply crisis in the Japanese lumber industry"
US lumber prices might increase if a softwood lumber agreement is not reached
Wednesday, 12th of October, left Canada and the United States without a replacement for the expired Softwood Lumber Agreement. Continue reading "US lumber prices might increase if a softwood lumber agreement is not reached"
Is cross laminated timber better than concrete?
The US concrete sector is showing concerns regarding the use of mass timber products, especially CLT, as a safe and sustainable building material for mid-rise construction.
The American Federation NRMCA (National Ready Mixed Concrete Association) has recently published a video against the ongoing attempts to establish the CLT as a solution for multi-storey buildings. Continue reading "Is cross laminated timber better than concrete?"
World demand of forestry machinery to surge 4.5% annually by 2019
World demand for forestry equipment (including both purpose-built and converted machinery) is forecast to rise 4.5 percent annualy to US$9.3 billion in 2019. This will represent a moderation from the 2009-2014 pace of increase, a period during which market gains were bolstered by a rebound in roundwood production from lows posted during the 2009 global recession, as well as by the institution of new engine emissions standards in European Union (EU) and US.
According to a new Freedonia report, Continue reading "World demand of forestry machinery to surge 4.5% annually by 2019"
India: Century Plyboard and Greenply revenues expected to rise strongly
Century Plyboards and Greenply Industries' revenues have surged about 44%, given the strong returns in the past one year.
Further gains could be linked to company-specific growth in revenue and market share, as well as profitability improvement. There have been a lot of factors behind the race, such as the government recently imposing an anti-dumping duty on imports of fibre boards from Indonesia and Vietnam for five years, Continue reading "India: Century Plyboard and Greenply revenues expected to rise strongly"
