Article archive

Furniture exporters from Malaysia receive big orders from China

Posted on by GWMI Admin

During the China International Furniture Expo (8-11 September), the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) eyed the potential orders for Malaysian furniture, worth around EUR 8.6 million.

18 Malaysian companies, including six first-time participants, exhibited in the Malaysian pavilion to promote their dining room, bedroom furniture along with occasional furniture and upholstered furniture. This is one of China’s major furniture fairs and is an annual event organised by the China National Furniture Association and the Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co. Ltd.

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Last year, Malaysia's export of wood products including furniture to China were worth EUR 176.7 million, which was almost 4% of all wood product exports.

In 2013 Malaysia and China agreed to try and increase bilateral trade to US$160 billion by 2017 after China upgraded Malaysia to be its full strategic partner.

This bilateral arrangement seeks to take advantage of opportunities generated from China’s ambitious ‘Belt and Road’ trade initiative.

US sawnwood imports from Africa declined in July

Posted on by GWMI Admin

During July 2016, there were lower US sawnwood imports from Africa, compared to the same period of 2015. The volume of US sawn temperate and tropical hardwood imports grew slightly in July from the previous month while the value of imports declined 3%.
The drop in import value was largely in temperate species, while tropical hardwood imports grew 1% to US$24.1 million in July. Year-to-date tropical imports were down 16% compared to July 2015. Continue reading "US sawnwood imports from Africa declined in July"

Danzer incorporates Czech Furniertechnik Raspenava

Posted on by GWMI Admin

Danzer has announced completion of the merger by incorporation of Furniertechnik Raspenava s.r.o. into Danzer Bohemia-Dýhárna.

Danzer had acquired Czech splicing company Furniertechnik Raspenava in January 2016 to complete their veneer offering.

“This is in line with the Danzer strategy to provide hardwood customers with a broad range of solutions and ensure the best use of the valuable hardwood resource, says Rudi Heinzelmann, COO of Danzer Veneer Europe. “Danzer’s European customers now have the choice between raw veneers and spliced faces. A choice, we are offering to our customers in North America since many years.”

Danzer is operating a splicing facility in Durham, Canada since the 1970ies.

In Czech Republic, 70 Danzer employees produce now approximately 160,000 m² spliced faces per month: about 50 % of the volume for furniture, another large part for doors and panels; splicing of thick-cut flooring deck layers and edge banding complete the portfolio. Danzer is planning to continue their splicing operations after the merger without changes.

Södra decides to close hardwood sawmill in Djursdala

Posted on by GWMI Admin

Södra is implementing structural changes in its hardwood sawmills to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of its sawmill operations. Negotiations with trade unions will be initiated with the intention of closing the hardwood sawmill in Djursdala with its 15 employees. Continue reading "Södra decides to close hardwood sawmill in Djursdala"

Finland: Biomass plant producer KPA Unicon announces fussion with bioenergy company Renewa

Posted on by GWMI Admin

KPA Unicon Group, the Finnish biomass boiler plant specialist, has recently announced that it is fusing with Finland-based bioenergy technology company Renewa.

Under the merger contract, KPA Unicon will be purchasing the entire share capital of Renewa.

In a statement, KPA Unicon said: “The transaction will give the Finnish and European Cleantech sector a stronger, renewed player whose solutions will enable increasingly more responsible, more sustainable and more profitable energy production in the energy, forest and raw material industries.”

KPA Unicon produces comprehensive service and technology equipment for heat and power plant projects throughout the lifecycle of the plants. The solutions utilize biofuels and fossil fuels with high energy efficiency.  Renewa offers local energy production solutions for biofuel- and waste-fired heat and power plants.

Through the merger, KPA Unicon becomes one of the prominent suppliers for mid-sized heat and power plants in the Nordic countries and Europe.

"We will be able to offer our customers a broader technology portfolio, more comprehensive operation and maintenance services, and more diverse financing solutions,” said Jukka-Pekka Kovanen, Managing Director, KPA Unicon Group.

The funds managed by Vaaka Partners Oy and the key personnel of the company have been the main shareholders of Renewa since 2008.

The parties aim to finalize the deal by the end of September of this year.

 

India sets anti-dumping duties on MDF from Vietnam and Indonesia

Posted on by GWMI Admin

India’s Finance Ministry has imposed anti-dumping duty on plain MDF imports from Vietnam and Indonesia.

This anti-dumping duty on plain MDF (also known as Custom-wood or Craft-wood in the domestic market) will be levied on boards having a thickness of 6mm or above and will be valid for a period of five years. Continue reading "India sets anti-dumping duties on MDF from Vietnam and Indonesia"

Weak dollar and higher demand drives up global softwood lumber prices

Posted on by GWMI Admin

Demand for softwood lumber has gone up in many markets around the world in 2016, resulting in a substantial increase in global lumber trade. With very few exceptions, the major importing countries have imported more lumber during the first six months this year than they did during the same period in 2015. Higher demand and a weaker US dollar resulted in generally higher lumber prices (in US dollar terms) worldwide in the first half of 2016 than in the 1H/15.
Lumber markets – North America
According to estimates by the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ), Continue reading "Weak dollar and higher demand drives up global softwood lumber prices"

Steico to boost LVL production in Poland

Posted on by GWMI Admin

Steico Społka z o.o., the Polish subsidiary of the leading German timber construction systems and wood fiber insulation manufacturer Steico SE wants to increase its Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) production.

The company decided to invest EUR 17.5 million in LVL equipment. The ordered equipment will be Steico´s second LVL line delivered to Steico's LVL mill in Czarna Woda, Poland, comprising: veneer drying line, dry veneer grading, composing and scarfing lines as well as LVL lay-up line, Continue reading "Steico to boost LVL production in Poland"

German furniture industry on the rise this year

Posted on by GWMI Admin

In the first half of 2016, the turnover of the German furniture industry amounted to EUR 8.9 billion, 4.9% above the prior-year period. After a successful 2015, with sales growth of 6.2%, the expectations of the industry were exceeded with this continued growth.

Yet, the production of furniture in Germany is becoming more difficult and poses huge challenges, as several traditional furniture companies are experiencing painful bankruptcies.

According to data provided by the German Federal Statistical Office, the increase in sales comes mostly from the home furniture sector. Continue reading "German furniture industry on the rise this year"

Binderholz builds its 3rd cross laminated timber plant in Germany

Posted on by GWMI Admin

Binderholz will build its 3rd cross laminated timber (CLT) plant to extend its large-format capacity at its Burgbernheim site in Germany. The works will become operational in December 2016.

During the winter months, the company also invested in extending product and factory assembly capacity at its main site in Unternberg, Austria. Continue reading "Binderholz builds its 3rd cross laminated timber plant in Germany"

Japan’s wood pellets imports and production boosted by the replacement of nuclear energy

Posted on by GWMI Admin

Japan’s wood pellets imports and production are increasing. The country is yet unable to extract these resources economically, although it has abundant biomass resources. Imports of wood pellets are therefore likely to increase in the coming years because the trend of mixing wood pellets with coal for thermal power generation.

Moreover, the number of biomass power facilities, which use wood materials including wood pellet is increasing under the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) system. Since the GOJ’s Biomass Nippon Strategy was unveiled in 2002, the introduction of pellet boilers and stoves for heating in public facilities and ordinary households has expanded. Continue reading "Japan’s wood pellets imports and production boosted by the replacement of nuclear energy"

Canadian producers still on the verge of loosing with a new SLA

Posted on by GWMI Admin

During the G20 summit, world leaders had protectionism at the top of their discussions. One of the things that raised serious issues was that the tariff barriers imposed on Canadian softwood lumber threaten nearly 22,000 jobs throughout the country.

According to the “Viewpoint” study published by the Montreal Economic Institute, the Canadian producers and the US consumers lost nearly $2 billion and $6.36 billion respectively, after the US producers registered additional net earnings of C$4.63 billion with the tariffs applied following the latest softwood lumber deal. Continue reading "Canadian producers still on the verge of loosing with a new SLA"

Malaysia: Plywood industry announces production curtailments

Posted on by GWMI Admin

Eight major plywood manufacturers in Sarawak like Shinyang, Ta Ann, Samurin and WTK announced to reduce the production by 10-15% starting August until Japan market recovers with owners’ signature.

This is unusual announcement by whole plywood industry, not by individual manufacturer. Imported plywood market in Japan has been depressed since early this year so that ordered volume to the manufacturers have been dropping for quite some time, which puts plywood mills in tough spot. Continue reading "Malaysia: Plywood industry announces production curtailments"

US lumber prices edged down in mid-September

Posted on by GWMI Admin

Some framing lumber markets were more active in mid-September, while others remained still in last week mix of trading. Southern Pine prices started to change after a four-week plunge down, while prices weakened in Western and Eastern S-P-F.
Some traders reported that they were seeing seasonal slowing, although others noted they had customers with plenty of work lined up in the fall. The Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price edged down $1. Continue reading "US lumber prices edged down in mid-September"

Latest Brazilian prices for logs, sawnwood and plywood

Posted on by GWMI Admin
Brazilian logs, mill yard, domestic US$ per m3
Ipê 189↑
Jatoba 104↑
Massaranduba 109↑
Muiracatiara 112↑
Angelim Vermelho 103↑
Mixed redwood and white wood 89↑
Source: STCP Data Bank

Export Sawnwood Prices

Sawnwood, Belem/Paranagua Ports, FOB US$ per m3
Ipe 1412
Jatoba 913
Massaranduba 729
Muiracatiara 707
Pine (KD) 195
FOB Belém/PA; Paranaguá/PR; Navegantes/SC and Itajaí/SC Ports. High quality wood (no cracks / without knots) / Measuring 2,50 m in length; 15 cm wide; and 30 mm thick. Source: STCP Data Bank

Continue reading "Latest Brazilian prices for logs, sawnwood and plywood"

Tariff barriers on Canadian lumber cost US consumers $6 billion since 2006, study shows

Posted on by GWMI Admin

The tariff barriers imposed on Canadian softwood lumber cost American consumers a fortune, all while enriching a limited group of producers, shows a Viewpoint published today by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), a Canadian public policy research center.

Since the entry into force of the latest Softwood Lumber Agreement between Canada and the United States, tariffs at the border have reduced Canadian exports and have allowed American producers to increase their market shares. The latter thus registered additional net earnings of US$4.31 billion between 2006 and 2015.

Continue reading "Tariff barriers on Canadian lumber cost US consumers $6 billion since 2006, study shows"

Softwood sawlog prices in Austria and Germany at lowest level in 10 years

Posted on by GWMI Admin

Softwood sawlog prices in both Austria and Germany have been in steady decline for about two years and in the 1Q/16 they reached their lowest level since 2006 (in US dollar terms). Although less dramatic, prices have also trended downward in Euro terms with average prices currently being 12% lower than two years ago.
Despite the recent price declines, sawmills in the two countries have some of the highest wood costs in Europe. Continue reading "Softwood sawlog prices in Austria and Germany at lowest level in 10 years"

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