The EU Parliament on Tuesday adopted the revised regulation on the land use, land use change, and forestry sector (LULUCF) which seeks to improve natural carbon sinks to make the EU the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and improve biodiversity in line with the European Green Deal.
News in international markets
US Becomes Sweden’s Second Largest Wood Products Export Market
A press release dated March 6th from Danske Bank, which provided highlights from its latest quarterly analysis, “Forest and Economy,” noted that reduced supply—not increased demand—has allowed Swedish wood products prices to begin rising once again, after their sharp decline in the autumn of 2022.
Timber Imports into UK Decreased in 2022, but Outlook for Timber Usage Remains Optimistic
According to recently released statistics from Timber Development UK (TDUK) and reporting by the Timber Trades Journal, imports of the main timber and panel products in 2022 were 2.4 million m3 lower than in 2021. TDUK, however, sees reasons for a brighter outlook in 2023.
Stora Enso Teams With Plywood Manufacturer Paged to Replace Fossil-Based Glue With Lineo
Polish plywood manufacturer Paged has selected Stora Enso’s lignin product, Lineo, to replace fossil-based glue in its plywood manufacturing process, according to reporting by Timber Trades Journal Online.
US Wood Pellet Exports Down Month-Over-Month and Year-Over-Year in January
According to data released on Wednesday by United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service and reporting by Biomass Magazine, the US exported 637,518.4 metric tons of wood pellets in January, down from 917,175.4 metric tons in December.
Norra Skog to Build a New Timber Terminal in Östavall, Sweden
Norra Skog has announced it is investing SEK 57 million in the construction of a timber terminal to be built on a former sawmill site in Östavall, Sweden. The goal is to have Östavall operational sometime in the second half of 2024.
Arauco Warns Wildfires in Chile Could Cost the Company $50 Million in Revenue
On Wednesday, Arauco, the Chilean pulp and wood panel marker, said it is estimating that it could experience as much as a $50 million hit to its bottom line due to fires raging in the country’s south, according to a report by Reuters. Arauco is the forestry arm of the industrial group Empresas Copec.
South Africa’s Stevens Lumber Mills Announces 90-Day Temporary Layoff Due to Resource Constraints
One of South Africa’s long-established sawmills, Stevens Lumber Mills, has announced a 90-day temporary layoff period due to increasing power outages (load shedding) and the tight supply of logs, according to reporting by Moneyweb. SML is located in Limpopo, the northmost province in South Africa.
Russian Logging Volumes Declined 13.5% Year-Over-Year in 2022
According to a report emanating from TASS, a Russian state-owned news agency, citing data sourced from Roslesinforge, the forest accounting department of Federal Forestry Agency: “Last year, a total of 194.6 million cubic meters were harvested in Russia, which is 13.5% less than in 2021.”
Brazilian Exports of Wood-Based Products Declined Month-Over-Month and Year-Over-Year in January
According to the International Tropical Timber Organization, in January Brazilian exports of wood-based products (except pulp and paper) declined 32.0% in value compared to January 2022, falling from US$393.9 million in January 2022 to US$267.3 million in January 2023.