The Australian government is set to provide a $15.1 million (A$) freight subsidy to companies transporting logs off of Kangaroo Island. The subsidy will aid in the movement of salvaged logs from bushfire-affected plantations on Kangaroo Island to sawmills, on the South Australian mainland, that currently have immediate capacity to process logs into structural timbers.
News in international markets
Ikea’s Owner Purchases 5500 Hectares of New Zealand Farmland with Plans to Plant it into Forestland
Ingka Group, which owns retail giant Ikea, has purchased 5500 hectares of Otago, New Zealand farmland that it plans to plant into forest. In August, the Overseas Investment Office approved the purchase of Wisp Hill buy the Ingka Group.
Ukraine May Allow Export of Roundwood and Green Lumber by Year’s End
The adoption of a Ukraine law that would permit the export of roundwood and green lumber is anticipated to have final approval prior to the end of the year. As written, the new law does not pose a significant threat to the country’s forest resources and relate businesses.
Timberlink to Add Timber Treatment Plant to Previously Announced Tarpeena Facility Upgrade
Timberlink, the Australian timber products manufacturing business owned by investment funds managed by New Forest, announced today (9-10-21) a $5.3 million (AUD) upgrade to its Tarpeena manufacturing facility, with the installation of a new Light Organic Solvent Preservative timber treatment plant.
UK Timber Import Levels Reach 14-year High in June 2021
According to the UK’s Timber Trade Federation (TTF), a surge of imported timber in June 2021 exceeded the one million m³ mark. At a total of 1.01 million m³, this brings the total volume of imports to more than 6 million m³ in the first six months of 2021 — the highest level in 14 years.
Western Australia to Band Native Forest Logging Starting at the End of 2023
Western Australia (WA) Premier Mark McGowan has announced an effort to preserve an estimated two million hectares of vegetation by banning logging of native forest in WA starting at the end of 2023. The changes will be contained in a new Forest Management Plan, due for release shortly, that from 2024 will ban the removal of timber from native forests besides for “limited forest management activities…
Brazilian Exports of Wood-Based Products Increased 74% Year-Over-Year in July 2021
According to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the value of Brazilian exports of wood-based products (except pulp and paper) increased 74% in value year-over-year from US$269.7 million in July 2020 to US$468.9 million in July 2021. Pine sawnwood exports grew 51% in value between July 2020 (US$48.9 million) and July 2021 (US$73.7 million).
UK Continues to Struggle with Higher Prices and Shortages of Lumber, Panels, and Building Materials
According to the latest data provided by the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the price of imported sawn or planed wood jumped more than 20% between June and July. The price of some imported timber has jumped 23% in just one month’s time. According to the BEIS, building materials are currently 64% higher than they were in July 2020.
U.S. Wood Pellet Exports Increase Month-Over-Month & Year-Over-Year in July 2021
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultures Service reported on Thursday (9-2-21) that the U.S. exported 646,494.1 metric tons of wood pellets in July, up from both 603,752.2 metric tons in June and 643,727.5 metric tons in July 2020. The U.S. exported wood pellets to approximately 17 countries in July.
Members of the European Parliament View New Green Forest Strategy as Vague and an Overstep of EU Remits
During the European Parliament’s agriculture meeting held on Wednesday (9-1-21), EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski presented one of the main initiatives of the Commission’s Green Deal. However, EU lawmakers from across all of the political spectrums have united in their criticism against the EU’s new flagship Forestry Strategy.