Forest products

VANCOUVER, B.C. - British Columbia's forests minister says the outlook for the lumber sector in the province's Interior, ravaged by the mountain pine beetle, isn't as pessimistic as an industry report issued this week.

The majority of Finland's paper manufacturing capacity has had to be shut down because of the stevedore strike. Stora Enso has closed more than half of its paper production in Finland, and UPM has stopped 15 of its 19 paper machines in the country.

It takes time, sometimes decades, but people power can turn around seemingly unstoppable juggernauts. That seems to be what is happening with regard to Tasmania's old growth forests.

The World Trade Organisation publishes an annual ‘World Trade Report’ which addresses issues and trends in trade, trade policy and multilateral trading.  The 2010 edition, to be published in July, will be ‘Trade in Natural Resources: Challenges in Global Governance“.

Softwood lumber prices were up in both North America and Europe in the 4Q, but it was more the result of lower inventory levels and reduced production rather than an increase in demand, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. The hot market for lumber last year was China, which increased imports by 75% thereby passing Japan as the largest importer in Asia.Seattle, USA. March, 2010.