News in international markets

Sustainability is one of many major challenges facing the Swedish forestry industry. In 2019, a group of eight Swedish forestry companies, along with the forest machinery manufacturer Komatsu Forest, started working together to create a machine with a low-impact approach that could increase harvesting productivity and improve the operator’s environment.

According to data released on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, by United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service, the U.S. exported 628,659.8 metric tons of wood pellets in February, down when compared to the 655,656.5 metric tons exported in January.

Vietnam has limited trade interaction, import or export, with either Russia or Ukraine. In 2021, Vietnam imports from Russia were valued at $55 million (USD), or about 2% of the total wood materials imported by the country. During the same time period, Vietnam exports to Russia were $7.3 million and to Ukraine even of a lesser value.

Veolia has launched the world’s largest biorefinery project which will be producing CO2-neutral bio-methanol from a pulp mill located in Finland. Although almost completely unexplored to date, the project will allow for the unlocking of the potential of this alternative source of feedstock for biofuel.

The European Commission is proposing a fifth package of sanctions against Russia, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday (4-5-22). The package would expand sanctions on Russian banks, block Russian vessels from EU ports, ban targeted exports and imports, and prohibit participation of Russian companies in public procurement.

According to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the value of Brazilian exports of wood-based products in February 2022 (excluding pulp and paper) increased 45% in value compared to February 2021 (from US$284.8 million to US$413.9 million). Pine sawnwood exports grew 48% in value year-over-year.

The Pearl River Delta business unit of China’s Evergrande Group announced in a posting on Saturday (4-2-22) via the developer’s official WeChat site that construction work has resumed at 95% of Evergrande’s projects across the country as of late March. The post says that work has resumed at 734 developments in all of China.

Verso Corporation announced on Tuesday (3-29-22) that it has received all of the necessary approvals from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to complete its previously announced merger with BillerudKorsnäs AB, a Swedish pulp and paper company.

Koskisen Oy has entered into a supply agreement with Hekotek AS for new sawmill equipment to be delivered to their new wood processing unit in Kärkölä, Järvelä, Finland. Koskisen’s production facilities in Järvelä form Finland’s biggest mechanical wood processing integrates, where almost 100% of the wood raw material is used in its own processes.