The impacts of COVID-19 on softwood lumber production have been modest.
News in international markets
The United Kingdom Urges Timber Traders to Prepare for Changes Effective at End of 2020
New due diligence checks to ensure timber and timber products have not been illegally harvested will be required by UK.
European Lumber Exports Continue to Grow
European lumber exporters continue to expand their overseas sales markets. Growing them over the past ten years from 30% to 45% and with a fifth of total export production in 2020 going to Asia. Traditionally most of the shipments went to neighboring countries on the continent and about 20% being shipped to the Middle East\Northern Africa, the US and Japan.
European Union Starts Anti-Dumping Procedure on Imported Russian Birch Plywood
Following a complaint brought by the Woodstock Consortium acting on behalf of the Union producers of birch plywood, who represent a majority of the total European Union (EU) production of the product, the EU has launched an anti-dumping procedure for the import of birch plywood from Russia.
U.S. Trade Representative Announces Investigations into Vietnam’s Use of Timber and Currency Undervaluation
The office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced that they are commencing two investigations under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. One investigation will explore Vietnam’s trade policies related to the import and use of timber.
Finland Exports of Forestry Industries Goods Decrease -6% in 2019
According to the Natural Resources Institute of Finland (Luke), in 2019, the value of Finland’s exports totaled 65 billion Euro.
Harvesting of Fire-Damaged Plantations on Kangaroo Island to Begin
Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers Ltd. (KPT) has advised the three levels of government of its intention to harvest fire-damaged plantations on Kangaroo Island. In order to recover the higher value logs salvage harvesting will being in the area of fire-damaged pine logs.
Newest Ukrainian Sawmill Struggles to get Delivery of Previously Purchased Logs
The newest Ukrainian sawmill, which opened at the end of 2017, is now on the brink of survival.
Reuter Poll Suggests 2021 has the Potential of Being a Difficult Year for the Global Housing Markets
A recent Reuters poll conducted between September 15th – 29th, disclosed that most major housing markets around the world will not be able to keep up with consumer price inflation in 2021. As a result, they are faced with multiple downside risks, in spite of rising strongly this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic and historically low interest rates.
Russian President Putin Instructs Government to Stop the Uncontrolled Export of Unprocessed Timber
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (9/30) instructed the government to stop the uncontrolled export of untreated timber following a meeting on the development and decriminalization of the timber industry.