Forest and Wood Products Australia, in partnership with the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub, has received an Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation program grant of $1.3 million (A$) to explore opportunities to create new wood products using softwood and hardwood pulp.
News in international markets
Coillte Announces New Strategy to Expand Ireland’s Carbon Capture and Forestry Planting
Coillte, which manages 440,000 hectares of Ireland’s state-owned woodlands (7% of the country’s land area), has announced that it has launched a major new strategy to optimize the benefits from forestry in Ireland. Coillte plans to greatly expand carbon capture, forestry planting, biodiversity, and recreational facilities between now and 2050.
EU Adopts Fifth Round of Sanctions, Effectively Halting Russian Wood Exports to the EU
On Friday (4-8-22), the European Union (EU) adopted its fifth round of sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The new sanctions include import bans on wood, cement, fertilizers, seafood, and liquor. The new round of sanctions will effectively halt Russian wood exports to EU countries.
EU Provides Questions and Answers on its Fifth Round of Restrictive Measures Against Russia
The EU has provided additional background information, via a set of questions and answers, explaining its imposition of a fifth round of restrictive measures on Friday (4-8-22) against Russia for their invasion of Ukraine. “The European Commission is fully committed to assisting [Member States] and ensuring a consistent implementation.”
Swedish Forest Industry Joins Forces with Forest Machinery Manufacturer to Develop New Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machine
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.
U.S. Wood Pellet Exports Decline Month-Over-Month but Rise Year-Over-Year in February 2022
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’s Wood Industry Impacted by the Russia-Ukraine War
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 Launches World’s Largest Biorefinery to Produce CO2-Neutral Bio-Methanol From Wood Pulp
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.
EU Poised to Expand Sanctions on Russia, Including Wood Import Ban
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.
Brazilian Exports of Wood-Based Products Increased 45% Year-Over-Year in February 2022
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.