Sawmill

January 22, 2023

Austrian sawmill and panel industry under pressure, but still optimistic

In the last quarter of 2022, the order situation in the Austrian sawmill industry continued to decline. It is currently still unclear whether this is just the usual seasonal decline or whether the economic slowdown is also playing a role. Accordingly, the sawmill industry will react in line with the market over the winter months of 2023 with slightly reduced production. However, the good global demand for timber construction products is still optimistic, the order books are filling up a little more slowly at the beginning of 2023. The domestic supply of raw materials has developed extremely well in the last year. However, the most recent quarter saw unexpected falls in felling in some regions. Production in the local forest is expected to stabilize at a good level of quality and quantity. Confidence in the Austrian timber industry has been strengthened in many areas. It is... Continue reading →

January 24, 2023

Tolko to extend Armstrong, Soda Creek lumber mill shutdowns

Tolko Industries has announced it will be extending its holiday shutdown period at its Soda Creek and Armstrong Lumber divisions. Late last month, the company stated it would conduct a holiday shutdown through the month of January, but the work stoppage will now carry over through the entire month of February. “We do not make these decisions lightly,” says Troy Connolly, vice-president of Solid Wood. The temporary closure will have a direct impact on the company, reducing production by roughly 35 million board feet of stud lumber. “High log costs and weak lumber markets continue to impact our operating footprint in the province,” says Connolly. “While we strive to ensure consistency and stability for all of our operations, the upward cost pressures in the province combined with the notable decline in lumber demand make the decision necessary,” he... Continue reading →

May 28, 2020

This year’s International Softwood Conference to take place digitally

The European Timber Association (ETTF) and the European Organization of Sawmills (EOS) announce that the 68th International Softwood Conference, originally planned to be held in Helsinki from October 6-9, 2020, will now take place digitally in a concentrated form on October 8, 2020. "The spreading COVID-19 pandemic, which has been keeping Europe and the rest of the world in suspense for a few months, gave us the feeling that we should take responsibility and choose a new ISC format," said Silvia Melegari , EOS Secretary General. The Finnish Sawmill Association will host the 69th International Softwood Conference 2021 in Helsinki next year. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting trade and has negative effects on the supply chain. It is still unclear whether these measures are temporary or will have a lasting impact. As part of the digital ISC 2020, there is the opportunity to... Continue reading →

January 16, 2023

Stora Enso strengthens its wood procurement in Finland, to replace Russian forestry operations

Stora Enso replaces wood imported from Russia with domestic wood and expands its wood procurement in Western Finland. Two offices have been opened in Satakunta, first in Kankaanpää and now the Eura office has also been officially opened. The forest experts at the Eura office serve forest owners in timber sales and other forestry matters in the Eura, Rauma, Pyhäranta, Eurajoki, Säkylä, Kokemäki, Harjavalla, Luvia, Kulla, Ulvila and Nakkila regions. Next, the company heads to South and Central Ostrobothnia. The purpose is to further strengthen the presence in the region and open 2–3 new offices. The locations of the new offices will be decided later. After the Satakunta office openings, Stora Enso Finland's wood procurement has more than 80 offices around the country. At the end of April, Stora said it had entered into an agreement to sell its two sawmills and their... Continue reading →

Russian sawmills hit by sanctions

Already in May 2022, Russian sawmilling companies were able to largely feel the impact of sanctions and restrictions on their activities. Thus, market participants note that shipments to Europe, if they occur, are in limited volumes, either under the obligations of previously concluded contracts or exclusive specifications. At the same time, Europe also notes the impact of the lack of Russian products and talks about a growing shortage. Alternative sales markets for Russia, namely Egypt and China, are also experiencing a number of problems. So, the Egyptian market for Russia is now determined not by the price, but by the possibility of paying for deliveries, because. there are difficulties in obtaining a letter of credit in the country. In China, at the moment there is a high level of inventory and a low level of demand, which, among other things, is constrained by quarantine... Continue reading →

May 9, 2019

US$250mil sawmill to be build in Argentina

Argentina's Grupo Garabi and Belgium's Forestcape are to invest a joint US$250mil in the Argentinian province of Corrientes in constructing the country's largest saw-mill, its output intended for export. The exact location will be Gobernador Virasoro with some US$80mil due to be spent in 2019. The sawmill will take shape alongside a biomass plant that is being built now. Garabi - founded in 1976 in Corrientes - and Forestcape have given Juan Pablo Tripodi, president of the Agencia Argentina de Inversiones y Comercio Internacional (AAICI), details of the project set to employ 800 people as of 2024 if not before. The sawmill will be able to process 500,000 m tons of wood per annum with the goal being to double that capacity over time, as explained by the CEO of Forestcape, Airy de Murga. His firm has spent a decade in South America already. Garabi administrates 18,400 ha of... Continue reading →

December 13, 2022

Precious Woods to close sawmill in Gabon due to high costs

Unexpectedly high cost increases in Gabon have forced Precious Woods to take drastic measures to reduce costs in order to secure the basis for the economic security of its operations in the short and medium term. In Gabon, the Company has recorded considerable cost increases since last year. In 2021, export taxes increased unexpectedly and the income tax reduction ended. From mid-2022, fuel prices increased by almost 100%. The current situation in sales markets leaves little room for further price increases. Therefore, due to the increase in fuel prices, several wood species can no longer be processed profitably. Precious Woods can still harvest these species sustainably and sell the logs on the local market, however, the Company will no longer process these species into sawn timber in its sawmills. Precious Woods will close an older sawmill, reduce associated support services and... Continue reading →

May 28, 2020

This year’s International Softwood Conference to take place digitally

The European Timber Association (ETTF) and the European Organization of Sawmills (EOS) announce that the 68th International Softwood Conference, originally planned to be held in Helsinki from October 6-9, 2020, will now take place digitally in a concentrated form on October 8, 2020. "The spreading COVID-19 pandemic, which has been keeping Europe and the rest of the world in suspense for a few months, gave us the feeling that we should take responsibility and choose a new ISC format," said Silvia Melegari , EOS Secretary General. The Finnish Sawmill Association will host the 69th International Softwood Conference 2021 in Helsinki next year. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting trade and has negative effects on the supply chain. It is still unclear whether these measures are temporary or will have a lasting impact. As part of the digital ISC 2020, there is the opportunity to... Continue reading →

January 24, 2023

Tolko to extend Armstrong, Soda Creek lumber mill shutdowns

Tolko Industries has announced it will be extending its holiday shutdown period at its Soda Creek and Armstrong Lumber divisions. Late last month, the company stated it would conduct a holiday shutdown through the month of January, but the work stoppage will now carry over through the entire month of February. “We do not make these decisions lightly,” says Troy Connolly, vice-president of Solid Wood. The temporary closure will have a direct impact on the company, reducing production by roughly 35 million board feet of stud lumber. “High log costs and weak lumber markets continue to impact our operating footprint in the province,” says Connolly. “While we strive to ensure consistency and stability for all of our operations, the upward cost pressures in the province combined with the notable decline in lumber demand make the decision necessary,” he... Continue reading →