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Timber plantations in permanent forest reserves are not considered deforestation, plantation and commodities Malaysian minister Johari Ghani told the Dewan Rakyat (the lower house of the Malaysian parliament). Source: Free Malaysia Today He said the government considered such plantations as forest since the land use remained unchanged and trees were replanted after harvest. Johari also said states were allowed to log and replant only a small portion of reserves at a time, capped at 5% of the total area. He said Malaysia would honour its pledge to the United Nations to keep half of its land under forest cover. “We are at 54.3% (forest cover) today, so we’re still within our limit,” he said. He said loans had been provided to support timber plantations under the industrial timber plantation (ITP) scheme, with repayment due when harvesting begins, usually after 15 to 20 years. As of June 30, some 259,654ha of reserves had been converted into plantations, of which 67.5% had already been replanted. He was responding to a question by Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu), who had asked about the progress of ITPs, the extent of deforestation involved, and their impact on the environment and ecosystem. Johari said that clearing forests for oil palm was not allowed as such crops would not meet global sustainability standards and could not be exported. He also rejected claims that ITPs were monoculture projects, saying various species such as acacia, rubber and teak are being planted. “The key rule is to keep replanting after each cycle so that forest cover is maintained in the long term,” he said. On the timber trade, Johari said raw log exports remained prohibited. “Logs must be processed locally before export, such as into furniture,” he said. Imported logs are permitted, but only from certified sustainable sources to protect Malaysia’s export certification. He was responding to a question by Tan Hong Pin (PH-Bakri) on whether logs from Malaysian forests were being exported directly overseas.

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China’s central bank said on Monday it has issued a notice jointly with two other government departments, outlining 15 targeted measures to leverage financial strength to drive high-quality forestry development. Source: China Daily The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said that the measures, raised jointly with the National Financial Regulatory Administration and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, involve five aspects. These aspects include enhancing financial services for collective forest tenure reform, strengthening financial safeguards for critical forestry strategies, and increasing financial investment for the forestry industry’s high-quality development. The notice placed a strong emphasis on innovation in forest rights mortgage lending, advocating for an expanded scope of mortgageable forest rights, legally compliant loan term extensions, and overall improvements in loan quality, quantity, and accessibility. It further specifies that the three departments will enhance financing coordination for national reserve forest projects, streamline loan approval processes, and facilitate the transformation of ecological resources into ecological capital. Going forward, efforts will focus on improving the quality and efficiency of financial services for collective forest tenure reform in order to support the high-quality development of the forestry sector, according to the PBOC.

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The Two Sides Trend Tracker is a biennial global survey and one of the most comprehensive studies into consumer perceptions of print, paper, and paper-based packaging. Commissioned by Two Sides and conducted by independent research company Toluna, the study was carried out online in January 2025. Source: Timberbiz In its latest edition, the research gathered responses from 12,400 consumers across 17 countries including national representative insights from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States. Across Europe, a growing number of organisations are encouraging customers to transition from paper to digital communications, often citing environmental benefits. However, many of these claims lack evidence and fall under the definition of greenwashing – the use of misleading environmental messaging to justify cost-saving decisions. The Trend Tracker survey reveals that 56% of European consumers recognise the primary motivation for service providers switching their customer communications to digital is to reduce costs, not to help the environment, an increase from 49% in 2021. Furthermore, 65% believe they should not be charged more for choosing paper bills or statements, a figure that has risen steadily from 54% in 2021. The right to choose remains important for many, 76% of European consumers (up from 74% in 2021) agree they should have the right to choose between paper and electronic communications, especially when dealing with financial and service providers. This choice is not only about preference but about accessibility, ensuring that those who cannot easily access digital services are not left behind. “The Trend Tracker survey is a vital tool for understanding how consumer perceptions are shifting across a wide range of topics related to print, paper, packaging, and tissue products. “Unlike earlier editions, where the COVID-19 pandemic introduced dramatic swings in opinion, this year’s findings reveal a steadier and more consistent view across Europe. Encouragingly, we’ve seen modest improvements in public understanding, but the survey also highlights some persistent misconceptions that the industry must continue to address,” said Jonathan Tame, Managing Director, Two Sides. Focus Areas of the 2025 Survey: Environmental perceptions of paper, print, and fibre-based products Preferences for printed or digital communication Attitudes toward packaging and sustainable alternatives Consumer views on tissue product use and manufacturing Two Sides is a global not-for-profit, membership organisation promoting the unique sustainable and attractive attributes of print, paper, and paper-based packaging. You can download a summary paper here.

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Faced by continuing change in packaging and industrial paper markets, the latest data and analysis for Australia reveals some intriguing trends and shifts. This update focuses on the performance of various packaging grades, including corrugated boxes, cartonboard, sacks and bags, and other industrial papers. Source: Industry Edge IndustryEdge is confident that when final analysis is completed, Australia’s large packaging and industrial paper market will have consumed a record volume of paper and paperboard, around or just above 2.0 million tonnes, in 2024-25. Confirmation will be available in the 2025 Pulp & Paper Strategic Reviews. A highlight of the last year has been the sharp increase in Australian packaging grade imports, which rose by 17.2% year-ended May 2025. Imports totalled 278.9 kt, more than 40,000 tonnes higher than for the previous year. This surge in imports contrasts with a 5.8% decline in exports over the same period. Importantly, Australia is still – by a long margin – a net exporter of packaging and industrial paper grades. The weighted average prices for imported packaging and industrial paper grades also saw a decline of 3.3% in Australian dollars, measured on a free-on-board basis. The trend of increasing imports extends to converted packaging products, including sacks and bags and every possible version of corrugated boxes, right down to humble pizza boxes. These imports continue to set new records, with a total of 214 kt imported year-ended May, valued at more than AUD679 million, marking a 4.8% increase for the year. These may be something of a canary in the mine. Despite the sovereign capacity in packaging, it is easy to observe imports gaining a progressively larger toehold, gradually crowding out local manufacturing, at the margin. IndustryEdge’s latest reporting, provided as part of the Pulp & Paper Edge Data and Information Service, provides a comprehensive overview of the Australian packaging paper industry and trade, highlighting the key trends. For instance, Australia’s net exports of packaging and industrial paper grades totalled 493 kt year-ended May, down 15.3% from the prior year. Imports of Kraftliner – the strong outer liner for corrugated packaging – and corrugating medium, saw notable increases, with the latter rising by 40.7% to 63.7 kt over the last year. The July monthly update also delves into price movements of various packaging grades. Import prices for packaging and industrial paper grades declined by 3.3% year-ended May 2025. The IndustryEdge Australian Packaging Paper Trade Price Indexes provide valuable insights into these price trends, showing the weighted average price movements for selected major grades. It is updated each month and exclusively available to subscribers. Converted packaging products continue to trend upwards, with annual imports increasing for the twenty-seventh consecutive month. Year-ended May 2025, total imports rose by 8.1% to 213.9 kt. Moulded fibre product imports also saw a significant increase, totalling AUD93.9 million, up 22.9% year-ended May 2025. The packaging and industrial paper sector in Australia and New Zealand continues to experience change, with increases in imports and notable shifts in price trends. These developments underscore the importance of staying informed and adapting to the evolving market landscape. For more detailed data and analysis, subscribers can access IndustryEdge’s online Pulp & Paper Industry Data & Information Service at any time and can download a range of data and analytical products, all updated monthly at www.industryedge.com.au

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The recent Blackberry Funding article (Funding for critical research to tackle blackberry invasion) was distributed with incorrect information regarding the source of funding and the recipient of the funding. The Murray Region Forestry Hub (MRFH) was not the recipient of the funding for this work. FWPA provided funding to the research project which is headed up by Dr Rae Kwong (AgVic). The Hubs, who are funded by DAFF are often instrumental in providing the preliminary work to support such research applications. The media release from the MRFH was intended to demonstrate the strong ongoing collaboration between these groups.

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Following the initial announcement earlier this year, Techlam has now confirmed the successful acquisition of the Woodspan brand and intellectual property (IP), and the formalisation of a long-term supply partnership with Taranakipine. Source: Timberbiz The deal ensures continuity for Woodspan’s parallel laminated timber (PLT) customers and brings the brand’s technical expertise in-house. “We’ve been working towards this since our initial announcement earlier this year,” said Brett Hamilton, Managing Director of Techlam. “The acquisition gives us direct access to proven PLT systems, and the manufacturing partnership ensures our customers get reliable supply.” Under the new structure, Taranakipine will continue manufacturing PLT panels to Woodspan specifications, whilst Techlam will lead design, sales, distribution and customer support. This partnership combines Taranakipine’s production capabilities with Techlam’s global distribution network and technical resources, ensuring an uninterrupted supply for customers. “We’ve worked closely with the Taranakipine team to align on specifications, tolerances and logistics,” said Roy Hamilton, Director of Sales & Projects at Techlam. “The result is a seamless supply chain that supports our customers with reliable, high-quality engineered timber.” Tom Boon, CEO of Taranakipine, sees the arrangement as strengthening both companies. “This partnership is a great example of how collaboration can unlock value for the entire industry,” he said. “We get to focus on what we do best – manufacturing high-quality PLT panels whilst Techlam takes care of the customer relationships, design and project management.” As part of the transition, Ruben Norris, formerly Technical Manager at Woodspan, has joined Techlam as Technical and Project Support. “I’m excited to be joining Techlam at such a pivotal time,” said Ruben Norris. “There’s genuine momentum here. The partnership with Taranakipine means we can maintain the quality standards customers expect whilst expanding our capacity to support new projects.” The timber industry in New Zealand has historically faced supply chain disruption and gaps in technical support. Roy Hamilton says the new structure addresses this. “We’ve spent months aligning specifications and logistics with Taranakipine. Customers are already seeing improved lead times and better coordination between design and production,” he said. The deal delivers several benefits for the industry: improved lead times and production planning, expanded technical support through Ruben’s training programmes, continued innovation including the MPI-supported PLT ground floor system, and sustainable sourcing from New Zealand-grown radiata pine. The companies have integrated their ERP systems and completed joint training programmes, with additional customer engagement planned for September. “We’re not trying to reinvent anything,” Brett Hamilton said. “Woodspan already had great systems and loyal customers. We’re just making sure those relationships are properly supported, and the supply chain works reliably. This is about building something enduring for the mass timber industry in New Zealand.”

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New Forests, a global investment manager of nature-based real assets and natural capital strategies, has announced the purchase of approximately half of McPhee Beef Farms in New South Wales via its Australia New Zealand Landscapes and Forestry Fund. Source: Timberbiz McPhee Beef Farms is a large-scale, highly improved beef breeding operation located near Yarrowitch and Walcha in the New England region of New South Wales. Aggregated over 30 years by the McPhee family, it is home to the Maria River Cattle Company Angus herd which, crossed with fullblood Wagyu bulls, is a major supplier of high-quality F1 Wagyu. Covering approximately 8,400 hectares of freehold land across two main holdings, Benditi Aggregation and Glen Eagle, the McPhee Beef Farms will be known as Benditi Pastoral Company. Existing staff and management are being retained under a new management company formed by the vendor to provide ongoing property management and maintain existing business relationships for Benditi Pastoral Company. The asset will be managed by New Forests with specialist agricultural expertise provided by its related entity New Agriculture, using a whole of landscape approach to optimise the investment returns with the potential for registering carbon projects and introducing more regenerative agriculture practices.  New Forests will also look at management practices to reduce emissions across farm vehicles and review energy requirements from renewable sources. “The McPhee asset is a quality business which aligns perfectly with our whole of landscape approach where we can position investors to benefit from the best use of the landscape, while combining additional revenue streams such as carbon and biodiversity,” David Shelton, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, and Global Head of Investments at New Forests, said. McPhee Beef Farms is ANZLAFF’s fourth Australian investment, following the acquisition of three sites in the central tablelands of New South Wales, which were acquired as part of the Fund’s Australian greenfields aggregation program. In January 2025, New Forests announced the final close of ANZLAFF (its fourth fund focussed on Australia and New Zealand), raising approximately A$600 million from institutional investors from across Asia Pacific and Europe including Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Japan’s Kyushu Electric Power, Germany’s BVK and Sweden’s AP2. In April 2025, New Forests announced New Agriculture was looking to raise A$750 million for the New Agriculture Landscape Opportunities Fund (NALOF) from institutional investors. This strategy takes a similar approach to the previous four funds, but with agriculture as the core focus, rather than forestry. The transaction is subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval.

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