Forest Products Industry

Malaysia has become the latest country to ratify The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement. Malaysia joins Peru, Japan, Singapore, Chile, New Zealand and Vietnam in ratifying the agreement. Source: Timberbiz Once the UK government joins the CPTPP, more than 99% of current UK goods exports to CPTPP members will be tariff-free once the deal comes into effect, helping businesses export more to CPTPP markets. This agreement is good news for international trade in the wood sector, as the tariff schedule within the agreement indicates that all wood products with commodity codes starting 44, which includes 44 12 plywood, 44 11 fibreboards and 44 10 particle boards, will have duty free trade (for both exports and imports) within the countries that ratify the CPTTP agreement. Timber Development UK has updated its recent Trade Note on the CPTPP to reflect Malaysia’s joining the agreement and has also added a table showing how plywood products from Malaysia (or any of the other countries who have ratified the agreement) will move from 6% or 10% duty to duty free from Year One of the CPTPP agreement.

An upgrade of £14.5 million will be made to Forestry England’s tree nursery to grow climate-resilient trees at its tree nursery in Cheshire, including building a new seed extractory. This will produce seeds for millions of high-quality, UK grown, resilient trees in the decades ahead. Source: Timberbiz The new facility, which is due to open in the northern spring of 2025, will be the largest in the UK, testing and processing up to four tonnes of tree seeds each year. It will replace Forestry England’s current seed extractory at Alice Holt Forest in Surrey which was built in 1964. Most of the funding for the upgrades is being made available from the Defra Nature for Climate Fund with Forestry England also contributing. The project will boost Forestry England’s resilience in supplying suitable genetic material for woodland creation and regeneration for the rest of this century. In particular, the development will allow Forestry England to process more seed, and from a greater variety of tree species located in 13 specially planted orchards and 39 seed stands spread across the nation’s forests. Douglas fir, western red cedar and Norway spruce will be amongst the focus species because they are expected to grow well and become more prominent as sources of high-quality timber in England’s future climate conditions. As well as processing seeds and growing trees for the nation’s forests, Forestry England also supplies other forestry organisations. In 2025, depending on the seed crops, they expect to supply around 450 kg of conifer seeds to the private sector as well as around 7.5 million trees for planting in the nation’s forests. Building a secure supply of high-quality tree seed from diverse species over the years ahead will significantly improve availability for UK nurseries and reduce the amount of seed imported from overseas. This will benefit the UK forestry sector as a whole and plays a major part in boosting diversity in timber producing tree species. The new seed extractory building will be equipped with the best available processing machinery alongside expanded areas for cold and dry seed storage that will enable several tonnes of seeds to be stored in the best conditions before germination and planting. As well as building the new seed extractory, Forestry England is creating a new miniplug growing facility at the nursery, which will more than double the capacity of the ‘standing out area’. This is the protected area where tree seedlings continue to grow after they leave the glasshouse and become acclimatised to outdoor conditions. This will complement the glasshouse which Forestry England opened in 2018 as its first major project to build resilience against changing weather patterns. This computer-controlled environment uses a combination of fans, shade screens and roof ventilation to regulate the temperature, humidity and light levels for the growing trees. Cell-grown trees can be planted all year round and so help in extending the planting season in the nation’s forests. Together, these tree nursery investments support Forestry England’s work growing, planting and caring for sustainable, wildlife-rich, productive forests across the country.  

Kesla launched a new generation box-framed KESLA 165 forest trailer at the Agricultural Machinery Trade Fair in Helsinki this month. Source: Timberbiz KESLA 165 marks the beginning of a new era in tractor-drawn forestry trailers with its robot-welded box-frame-type structure and technical features earlier known from forwarders. The trailer has a standard load space area of 4 m² which can be easily expanded to an impressive 5 m² by simply turning the posts. Together with freely adjustable bunks, hydraulically movable front screen and extendable rear frame, the load space flexibly adapts to varying characteristics of different kinds of round wood. Load space length is 4,8 m which allows 6 m logs, or even longer ones, to be transported safely and efficiently. The new trailer is specifically designed for professional tractor contractors providing increased productivity in logistics and more earnings. KESLA 165 is the only 167/2013 type-approved forest trailer with 16 tn payload Together with a tow bar mounted KESLA 326T timber loader the gross weight of KESLA 165 trailer is totally 22 000 kg consisting of 6000 kg deadweight and 16 000 kg payload. Due to an articulated tow bar and ISOBUS connected traction system the trailer follows the tractor perfectly especially in steep hills and tight turnings. Special attention is put on the bogies which are designed to climb over the obstacles. Excellent gross weight-payload ratio provides the best fuel economy on the market per transported round wood m3. A powerful nave drive provides an extra 3,9 tons draw power (250 bar and at 2 km/h speed) when required. ISOBUS connected traction system benefits the tractor as the load is well synchronized and therefore causes less stress to the tractor. Trailer comes already from the factory with an EU wide 167/2013 type approval and can be therefore driven legally on the public roads. Prior to its launch, the KESLA 165 trailer received an honourable mention in the New Product Competition organized by the Agricultural Machinery Trade Fair. All KESLA trailers are manufactured in Finland at Kesla Kesälahti plant which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. International sales of KESLA 165 starts in December 2024.

For many, the aroma of forests evokes memories of tranquil walks in nature. Port Blakely Essential Oils is harnessing these sensations with their Douglas-fir essential oil, setting a new standard in the fragrance industry by offering an FSC certified alternative to synthetic perfumes. Source: Timberbiz Located in the heart of New Zealand’s pristine wilderness, Port Blakely has created a product that encapsulates the bright, woodsy notes of Douglas-fir, making it ideal for cosmetics, aromatherapy, and personal fragrances. Unlike many companies that rely on harmful fossil fuels, Port Blakely has embraced the natural power of trees, creating a fully sustainable, circular energy system. Their state-of-the-art biomass boiler transforms wood byproducts into clean, renewable steam energy, allowing them to power operations while dramatically reducing their carbon footprint. This commitment comes at a pivotal time when consumers increasingly prioritise eco-friendly options in their purchasing decisions. The company’s forests, including the pristine Shag River Forest, located just 2.5 hours from Queenstown, provides clean air and pure water, ensuring the highest quality essential oils. “With over 20 years of Forest Management FSC certification under our belt, it was only natural for Port Blakely NZ Essential Oils [a subsidiary of Port Blakely] to become one of the first tree oil producers globally to gain FSC chain of custody accreditation for our Douglas-fir essential oil. We consider this the global gold standard in sustainable forest management and are proud to have achieved it within just three years of operation,” said Mitch Cooke, Business Manager for Port Blakely NZ Essential Oils. FSC certification ensures that Port Blakely’s operations adhere to rigorous environmental and social standards, safeguarding biodiversity, protecting workers’ rights, and supporting local communities. This is particularly significant as more consumers seek to align their purchasing decisions with sustainability principles. According to Mr Cooke, the company’s essential oils enable customers to “make better informed purchases,” whether they are selecting products for aromatherapy, fragrances, or cosmetics. The fragrance industry’s transition toward natural, responsibly sourced products reflects broader changes in global consumer preferences. In 2022, the natural personal care market experienced an 8% growth, driven by a rising interest in eco-friendly options. Industry analysts from market research firms like Grand View Research and Mordor Intelligence have noted that, despite the fragrance sector’s slow move away from petrochemicals, primarily due to the lower cost of synthetic ingredients, there is a growing demand for natural alter-natives. As consumers become more educated about the environmental impacts of fossil fuel-based products, the market for sustainably sourced fragrances continues to expand.