This month the European Commission has updated the table with information on the state of implementation of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) by the EU Member States. The table regards whether the member countries have complied with their obligations provided under the EUTR.
Continue reading "Only few countries which haven't completely fulfilled EUTR obligations"
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Only few countries which haven’t completely fulfilled EUTR obligations
This month the European Commission has updated the table with information on the state of implementation of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) by the EU Member States. The table regards whether the member countries have complied with their obligations provided under the EUTR.
Continue reading "Only few countries which haven’t completely fulfilled EUTR obligations"
Brazilian Guararapes triples MDF production capacity with a new line
Brazilian plywood and MDF manufacturer, Guararapes SA has announced the start of production at its new MDF line in Caçador, Brazil. The total investment in the MDF line reached BRR 320 million (approximately US$ 92,6 million) and will triple the current production capacity from 200,000 m3 per year to 600,000 m3. Guararapes will thus Continue reading "Brazilian Guararapes triples MDF production capacity with a new line"
Prices for softwood lumber in Austria fall slightly in March
In March, the prices for softwood lumber in Austria declined slightly compared to February. The decline is of 1-2 euro per cubic meter on almost all of the assortments. Only edged boards gained a minor price increase. Prices for rough boards have remained constant.
Continue reading "Prices for softwood lumber in Austria fall slightly in March"
Higher US hardwood flooring imports from China
US imports of hardwood flooring declined to US$2.4 million in February, while assembled flooring panel imports increased to US$9.5 million. However, year-to-date flooring panel imports were lower than in February 2015, while hardwood flooring was up 7%.
China was the Continue reading "Higher US hardwood flooring imports from China"
Danzer to expand capacity of engineered hardwood flooring in France
Danzer has started the construction work for converting its plant in Souvans, France: The goal is an efficient production site for sliced hardwood flooring deck layers. The Danzer says that the capacity expansion is a response to the growing demand for thick-cut deck layers. Production start is foreseen for spring 2017; the full capacity of 20,000m3 log volume will be reached in 2018.
As Continue reading "Danzer to expand capacity of engineered hardwood flooring in France"
Sawlog prices in Sweden drop sharply in the first quarter of the year
In the first quarter of 2016, roundwood prices in Sweden show a negative development as compared to the previous quarter. Pine sawlogs have become cheaper by about EUR 2,50 per cubic meter, while the price of spruce sawlogs has declined by more than EUR 2/m3.
Developments in pulpwood prices are mixed: spruce pulpwood price has dropped by -1.37%; at the same time, Continue reading "Sawlog prices in Sweden drop sharply in the first quarter of the year"
German timber companies launch campaign against FSC
A group of 25 German forestry and timber companies headed by Eurobinia have published a letter calling for abolition of FSC certification in public forests and asking that FSC be dropped as a requirement in German public procurement policy.
According to a report by the Global Timber Forum (GTF), the letter was sent through a lawyer and addressed to “responsible politicians”. Continue reading "German timber companies launch campaign against FSC"
Brazil: Domestic and export prices for logs, sawnwood and plywood
| Brazilian logs, mill yard, domestic | US$ per m3 | ||
| Ipê | 156↑ | ||
| Jatoba | 87↑ | ||
| Massaranduba | 91↑ | ||
| Muiracatiara | 93↑ | ||
| Angelim Vermelho | 86↑ | ||
| Mixed redwood and white wood | 74↑ | ||
Source: STCP Data Bank
Export Sawnwood Prices
| Sawnwood, Belem/Paranagua Ports, FOB | US$ per m3 | ||
| Ipe | 1425→ | ||
| Jatoba | 938→ | ||
| Massaranduba | 743→ | ||
| Muiracatiara | 741→ | ||
| Pine (KD) | 200→ | ||
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
Domestic Sawnwood Prices Continue reading "Brazil: Domestic and export prices for logs, sawnwood and plywood"
New biomass plant for Stora Enso
Stora Enso Wood Products Ltd and KPA Unicon have signed a contract of a biomass-fired hot water boiler plant delivery to Stora Enso sawmill in Honkalahti, Finland. The output of the new Unicon Biograte boiler plant will be 17.7 MWth. The new boiler plant will utilize bark and other wood residues from the Honkalahti sawmill as fuel, and it Continue reading "New biomass plant for Stora Enso"
Setra sells wooden homes subsidiary Plusshus to Swedish Derome Group
Setra has recently reached an agreement with Swedish house manufacturer Derome on the sale of its subsidiary, Setra Plusshus.
Setra Plusshus is since 2009 a wholly-owned subsidiary of Setra Group and in 2015 accounted for about 4% of the Group’s total sales. Continue reading "Setra sells wooden homes subsidiary Plusshus to Swedish Derome Group"
Setra Plusshus is since 2009 a wholly-owned subsidiary of Setra Group and in 2015 accounted for about 4% of the Group’s total sales. Continue reading "Setra sells wooden homes subsidiary Plusshus to Swedish Derome Group"
Vietnam’s share in US wooden furniture imports tops 20%
The value of US wooden furniture imported in February was almost unchanged from the previous month at US$1.39 billion. Year-to-date imports were 23% higher than in February 2015. Furniture imports from China declined by 3%, while imports from Vietnam grew 4% month-over-month.
For the first time Vietnam’s share in total Continue reading "Vietnam’s share in US wooden furniture imports tops 20%"
China: Log imports pick up in 1Q/2016 on declining log inventories and rising demand
Increased demand for wood products and declining log inventories in China has resulted in higher importation of logs to China in the 1Q/16. Australia has increased its shipments almost three-fold in three years and currently, ten percent of all softwood logs unloaded in Chinese ports are from Australia.
Softwood log imports to China picked up in March to the highest level in 12 months. The total import volume for the first quarter of 2016 was just over seven million m3, which was about two percent higher than in the 1Q/15, Continue reading "China: Log imports pick up in 1Q/2016 on declining log inventories and rising demand"
Global investment firm to invest $50 million in Angolan timber
Global investment firm Quantum Global Group announced that the Government of Angola has leased over 80,000 hectares of plantations and additional land bank area to the Group to develop large-scale wood fiber plantations in the Planalto region of Angola.
As part of this concessional agreement, Quantum Global Group aims to invest approximately USD 50 million to the Continue reading "Global investment firm to invest $50 million in Angolan timber"
Opinion: Softwood export duties between Canada and the US are inevitable
Canadian forest companies are now worried about the new duties which would be implied in a new Softwood Lumber Agreement.
Forest products analyst Paul Quinn stated that even if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Barack Obama said that they would find a solution within 100 days from their meeting in March, is possible that the mid-June term to pass with no Continue reading "Opinion: Softwood export duties between Canada and the US are inevitable"
Demand for US softwoods in Mena region expected to climb
Once with the booming construction and housing market in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena region), US softwood exports to the region have increased.
In 2015, total US softwood lumber exports to the Mena region reached a value of $20 million. Yet, American Softwoods (AMSO) hopes that the exports’ situation will improve, due to the fact that American softwood lumber exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) registered a 1,127% increase in January 2016 in comparison to the first month of 2015, according to Gulf Construction Online.
Moreover, the UAE still is a key timber processing and re-export hub for the region. The increase on this market is in line with the global increase in softwood lumber trade, which increased during the first 9 months of 2015, compared to the same period of 2014.
“The Mena region’s need for high-quality wood products for its construction, furniture, and housing markets, amongst others, creates widespread opportunities for us to assist in the growth of US softwood exports to the region,” said Charles Trevor, consultant to American Softwoods.
American Softwoods (AMSO) is a promotional partnership formed by three major U.S. softwood trade associations, the Southern Pine Council (Southern Forest Products Association and Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association), the Softwood Export Council and APA – the Engineered Wood Association. More info here
Untreated Canadian sawnwood can continue to be exported to Australia
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Australia's Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) have established a national certification program that ensures untreated Canadian sawnwood can continue to be exported to Australia. The establishment of the Canadian Untreated Sawnwood Certification Program is an important achievement for Canada as over CA$40 million worth of untreated sawnwood is exported to Australia annually.
The Canadian Untreated Sawn Wood Certification Program replaces the Canadian Accredited Timber Scheme (CATS), a voluntary pre-shipment inspection program that facilitated the entry of untreated Canadian sawnwood into Australia. Continue reading "Untreated Canadian sawnwood can continue to be exported to Australia"
Canadian lumber giants reject rumored US proposal to reinstate softwood lumber quotas
There is rumor that the US proposed to reinstate across-the-board quotas, but the Canadian forestry company executives don’t seem to be interested, even if they’re hopeful for a new Softwood Lumber Agreement.
More specifically, the US wants to reinstate quotas which would limit the lumber quantity that could be exported to any of the countries, as Resolute Forest Products chief executive Richard Garneau stated. Continue reading "Canadian lumber giants reject rumored US proposal to reinstate softwood lumber quotas"
Resolute remains competitive despite overall losses
Resolute Forest Products has recorded an overall loss in the Q1 of this year and even had to permanently shut down one of its newsprint machines in the US. Yet, the company is positive when it comes to their Northwestern Ontario lumber and paper mills.
Richard Garneau, Resolute Forest Products president, stated that even if the Canadian dollar increases, the operations at the company’s Thunder Bay pulp and newsprint plant will remain competitive. The weak loonie reached back under 80 cents US this wee Continue reading "Resolute remains competitive despite overall losses"
EU's illegal timber policy works, says FERN
NGO Fern released a report on the benefits of bringing many tropical forested countries into the European Commission’s FLEGT Act, as the EU is currently developing a review of their flagship forest policy.
The independent review of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan, released by the EC today, highlights the scheme’s successes as well as areas ripe for improvement, calling it “fully relevant… innovative, comprehensive and future proof”, while stating that it needs to “address new challenges in particular with regard to deforestation and conversion timber”.
As shown in Fern’s report, all the countries that have signed trade deals - so-called Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) - with the European Union under FLEGT, have shown clear improvements in the way their forests are owned and managed.
“Forest communities in some of the most deprived countries on earth, including Liberia and the Central African Republic, are seeing financial and other benefits from their forests, often for the first time. FLEGT is the most innovative international attempt so far to protect tropical forests and stop illegal logging, and this review should be a catalyst for strengthening it, ” said Lindsay Duffield, a Fern campaign co-ordinator and author of today’s report “Do FLEGT VPAs improve governance?”
