Forest Products Industry

With Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan now officially open buildings like the Austrian pavilion are basking in the limelight. Spanning an overall area of 940m2 and serving as a ‘hub of ideas’, Austria’s pavilion includes exhibition space reflecting their role as a pioneer in ‘green technologies, sustainable architecture and digital innovation’. Source: Timberbiz, photos BWM Designers & Architects Designed by BWM Designers & Architects, the concept behind the pavilion is a musical in-terpretation of Osaka Expo’s motto – ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’. The idea being that in Austria, the future is not ‘designed’ but ‘composed’ providing its title ‘Composing the Future’. Sustainability was a central aspect of the overall vision of ‘prosperity, people and planet’ for the pavilion with timber playing a central part. The 16.5m high sculpture is made from PEFC-certified spruce from Austian forests and was manufactured by Graf Holztechnik. The design represents the first bars of Ludwig van Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’ – the European anthem. The pavilion also employs circular economy principles. The musical staff uses ‘screws in-stead of glues’ to eliminate the use of adhesives and composite materials as far as possible and can be dismantled after Osaka Expo and reassembled. The exhibition hall is also a modular design so that can be easily moved and repurposed. The structure combines unique geometry with precision timber technology and traditional craftsmanship. “A sculptural spiral rises up into the sky – this is both an eye-catching visual beacon and the guide through the exhibition,” says Johann Moser, the pavilion’s architect from BWM De-signers & Architects. “When you get closer, you realise that it is an oversized, curling musical staff constructed from wooden slats bolted together.” The sculpture was in production for three months at the facility in Horn, Austria before being packed in sections and shipped to Japan. It uses 32m2 of timber and is designed as a ‘geodesic ribbon construction woven from indi-vidual, wooden slats’ and after bending into shape was bolted together with approx. 6,000 fully threaded screws. The design went through a series of tests, calculations and computer modelling and is de-signed around typhoon wind loads in Japan and can withstand gusts of up to 201 km/h. “With the highest precision in development and production, we have tested the limits of what is feasible and created an unlikely work of engineering from an original vision. I would like to congratulate everyone involved on this impressive success. Together, we have shown what is possible with passion and team spirit,” Stefan Graf, CEO of Leyrer + Graf said. All the national pavilions at Osaka Expo 2025 are housed within a huge giant wooden ring. The Grand Roof designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto which is 20m high, with a 2km circumference, and an 8m walkway and is being hailed as one of the largest wooden structures ever built.

Amidst rising economic uncertainty, the Timber Development UK (TDUK) is exploring the impact that US tariffs and any UK Government response could have on the UK timber market. The importance of the industry staying aligned both in the UK, and globally, is essential. Source: Timberbiz The UK is currently facing 10% tariffs, while the EU is facing a rate of 20%. However, President Trump added that: “The following goods as set forth in Annex II to this order, consistent with law, shall not be subject to the ad valorem rates of duty under this order”. This is critical for the wood sector as Annex II includes the main customs codes under heading 44 for Wood and Wood products. This is perhaps not such a great surprise given that most wood and minimally traded wood products such as sawn, PAR, sanded or mouldings are globally traded on a duty-free basis and so therefore don’t meet the “reciprocal” criteria of the Trump announcement. As the UK is the second-largest net importer of wood and wood products, with an import to export ratio of 5:1 in this area, additional duty applied to USA imports is going to have a low direct impact on our sector. However, what is much less clear at the present time is the impact such additional duty may have on our customers and the manufactured products they produce, such as furniture, which includes the wood we supply. The UK government has already published a new survey “Request for input on potential UK measures in response to US tariffs.” Part of this request is an Indicative Long List of US Products that could be included in any UK measures. Dave Hopkins, CEO of Timber Development UK, says: “We are encouraging all TDUK members to read this trade note and meet the call for action to participate in the UK Government’s Survey. It is vital that the UK Government understands the impact that any potential response could have on our sector and the businesses we represent.”

Recent reports suggesting that certain critical programs – specifically regarding private land ownership and wildland fire management – may be shifted outside of the Forest Service have been a particular source of alarm says the National Association of State Foresters (US). Source: Timberbiz Forests are a vastly complex and unique resource that require a dedicated federal agency with the technical expertise currently residing in the USDA Forest Service. Wildfire is an inherent part of the forest lifecycle, and its management necessitates a forestry lens. Moving programs to an alternate agency in pursuit of efficiency may compromise both the integrity of those pro-grams and the ultimate utility of efficiency efforts. Forests are the US’ most valuable natural resource, providing a myriad of public, economic, and environmental benefits. As efforts to down-size and reorganize the federal government move forward, State Foresters are raising concerns that decisions affecting the USDA Forest Service could unintentionally hinder the prosperity of forested communities and heighten wildfire risks for communities across the nation. Many State Foresters acknowledge the potential benefits of organizational restructuring, having gone through similar processes in their own states before and appreciating the difficulties and progress that stem from such efforts. This same experience, however, is why State Foresters hold legitimate concerns regarding the ongoing downsizing and reorganization efforts at the Forest Service and are eager to provide state perspectives on the process. “State Foresters can play a critical role in the federal reform dialogue, provided they are included,” said Jay Farrell, Executive Director of the National Association of State Foresters. “They are informed, engaged, and ready to ensure positive outcomes for forestry and wildfire management throughout this transition. While we are eager for progress, we urge a thoughtful and collaborative approach to achieving efficiency.”

Under an international exchange program, UK-based forester Alex Donaldson has started a work placement with Forestry Corporation of NSW. Mr Donaldson, who works with UK-based company Zulu Ecosystems, will spend three months working in the pine plantations of the Snowy Valleys, based at Tumut. Source: Timberbiz “I work as a forester in the UK primarily in woodland creation, I design and implement these largely native woodland schemes throughout England and Scotland,” Mr Donaldson said. “Here in Tumut my work is vastly different focused on softwood plantations. “So far, I have worked with several teams observing different aspects of the business. From the forest nursery and silviculture to roading and haulage. I am witnessing the whole supply chain within one organisation, which gives me fantastic development opportunities. “It’s especially interesting learning about the timber products that are produced from softwood plantations over here,” he said. Prior to his current role in woodland creation, Mr Donaldson spent four years as a Forest Manager with the UK’s largest commercial forest management company, Scottish Woodlands, after earning a Bachelor of Science majoring in Forestry from Bangor University in North Wales. “In a commercial sense, the way the softwood plantations are grown here in Tumut, harvested and replanted is on a scale like I have never seen before,” Mr Donaldson said. “It is completely different in the UK, certainly two different ends of the forestry scale. “In the UK, we often talk in tens or hundreds of hectares for planned harvesting operations, but here in Australia I’m seeing harvest areas more than 10 times the size and the restocking program out of Tumut this year is around 3500 hectares,” he said. Mr Donaldson said from a forester’s perspective it has been interesting comparing the expanse of native forests in NSW to the smaller more fragmentated size of England’s woodland landscape. “In the UK, we are currently focused on woodland creation to address timber security, climate change and biodiversity loss, as well as helping landowners and farmers diversify their businesses,” he said. “Ultimately, this is helping to reconnect the fragmented landscape to something more recognisable, like how it was before the intensification of farming. “From my research, I’ve found NSW has significantly more forest cover than the UK. “There are lots of trees integrated into the farming systems over here, often providing shade for livestock, helping to protect soils and increase soil water retention, much like the agroforestry you see back in the UK, which is a great credit to Australia,” he said. Mr Donaldson will return to England in mid-June. Under the exchange program, Forestry Corporation Silviculture Supervisor Prue Crundall is currently undertaking a three-month paid international work placement in the UK hosted by the Duchy of Cornwall. The Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Program is a collaboration between Forest-ry Australia, the Institute of Chartered Foresters in the United Kingdom, the New Zealand Institute of Forestry and the Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada. The pilot program, open to professional foresters under the age of 30, allows participants to build global networks, exchange knowledge and gain hands on experience in another country.

The announcement by the New Zealand Government directing public agencies to consider using wool fibres over synthetic options is a sensible decision, but it is disappointing wood fibres that possess the same innovative, sustainable and health benefits to wool have been overlooked says NZ’s Wood Processors and Manufacturers (WPMA). Source: Timberbiz “The wood products that we are talking about are not only renewable but have economic and environmental advantages when it comes to carbon storage and supporting our rural communities,” said Mark Ross, Chief Executive of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers. “With New Zealand’s sustainable forestry model, using locally grown wood products incentivises our circular bioeconomy, boosts New Zealand’s domestic wood processing industry, and supports our drive to meet our climate change targets. “Forecasting by Deloitte’s indicates that changing our market share to wood products by 25% would result in the removal of an additional 920,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the environment each year. “Greater use of timber in domestic building and construction is critical to rebuilding New Zealand’s economy and providing regional jobs in a highly productive sector”. As an example, engineered wood products, such as cross laminated timber and glulam, offer multiple benefits to New Zealand, including reduced construction time, lower carbon footprint, and excellent thermal performance as compared to traditional building materials like concrete or steel. Mass timber has gained recognition for its versatility and globally is increasingly being adopted in residential and commercial construction projects. Incentivising investment and growth within the wood processing and manufacturing industry is part of the Government’s plan that was announced by Forestry Minister, Hon Todd McClay. Hence, the chance to back this announcement by prioritising wood along with wool products in Government building and construction projects is a missed opportunity. The WPMA now call on the Government to align the wool directive with wood, as to directing consideration by agencies of using wood fibre products in the construction and refurbishment of government buildings.  

An Australian-first scientific study using systemically injected chemicals in WA’s City of Canning local government area is showing early success, signalling a breakthrough in urban forest protection.  Source: Inside Local Government In collaboration with BioHerbicides Australia (BHA), ArbWest, the University of Queensland and Curtin University, the Council’s trial of 131 trees, which tests systemic chemicals to combat the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB), has produced promising results in managing the invasive pest. The ground-breaking trial is showing significant progress in combating the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB). By testing innovative systemic chemicals, the trial of mature trees in the Canning River Regional Park, is proving to be a powerful solution in managing this invasive pest and safeguarding local ecosystems, the Council said. The results demonstrate that the chemicals are effectively inhibiting beetle development and fungal growth, marking a significant advancement in the battle against the PSHB crisis, said Mayor, Patrick Hall. “The initial trial results are incredibly encouraging and are a major milestone for the project team,” said Mayor Hall. “This represents a game-changing approach to preserving our urban forests. It is absolutely vital that we build on this momentum, yet whilst other local governments stand ready to participate in further trials, those trials can only occur if additional government funding and support is provided.” “While the initial results are promising, continued funding is essential to extend the trials and ensure long-term solutions,” said John Szymanski, BHA. “The evidence shows we’re moving in the right direction, but to make a real impact, we need additional support.” The Council has been working closely with the City of Perth, City of Vincent, Town of Victoria Park and the City of Gosnells, sharing information and collaborating to combat the PSHB infestation. While these and other local government authorities are eager to participate in the BHA trials and continue their efforts, the council says securing government support and funding is crucial to enable a coordinated, collaborative approach that can expand the trial and ensure long-term solutions for protecting urban forests.

Timber Queensland has launched its 2025–2026 Growth Scholarship Program, inviting early and mid-career professionals and skilled workers across the forest and timber industry to apply for financial support to pursue tailored learning and professional development opportunities. Source: Timberbiz Designed to elevate industry capability and retain skilled talent, the Growth Scholarships provide funding for innovative learning projects that will strengthen individual career pathways and support the long-term growth of Queensland’s forest and timber sector. Clarissa Brandt, Timber Queensland’s Strategic Relations and Communications Manager, said the initiative plays a critical role in Queensland’s workforce development and sector innovation. “The Growth Scholarships support practical, purpose-driven learning, recipients from previous years have obtained formal qualifications, undertaken short courses, participated in overseas study tours, organised secondments to other businesses and attended conferences and expos,” Mrs Brandt said. “Applications are open to people across all parts of the supply chain—from forest management and harvesting to sawmilling, design, manufacturing, building, and sales. We’re particularly keen to support emerging leaders and technical specialists committed to strengthening the sector’s future.” Scholarship categories for 2025–2026 include: Kennedy’s Timber Award – $10,000 HQPlantations Award – $5,000 AKD Award – $5,000 DTM Timber Award – $2,500 “We’re proud to have Kennedy’s Timber as our Foundation Partner, alongside HQPlantations, AKD, and DTM Timber as key supporters,” Mrs Brandt said. “Their investment in workforce development reflects a shared commitment to lifelong learning and industry resilience.” Michael Kennedy, CEO of Kennedy’s Timber, emphasised the importance of nurturing individual ambition to fuel collective industry growth. “More than 70 years ago, my grandfather began his journey as a timber apprentice. The Kennedy’s Timber Award continues this tradition of investing in people and ensuring that passion and expertise remain central to our industry’s evolution,” Mr Kennedy said. Applicants must be aged 18–45 and either working in or studying towards a career in Queensland’s forest and timber industry. Proposed projects must demonstrate clear professional development outcomes and benefits to the broader sector. For full eligibility criteria and to apply, visit: https://www.timberqueensland.com.au/growthscholarships  

The announcement by the US President of unilateral tariffs on every country in the world, at differentiated rates, with just a small number of industry-level exclusions, is a significant moment in world affairs. In understanding these matters, it is important to focus on facts. Source: IndustryEdge Australia has been hit with 10% tariffs on its imports to the USA. This will impact paper and paperboard trade, as well as wood products trade. However, many other countries, especially countries with whom Australia has significant trading positions, face far higher tariffs for trade into the USA. Beyond the specific trade situations created by the USA, the disruption in global markets is already evident, as the crash in stock markets, the volatility in currency movements and the spike in materials costs all demonstrate. Below, we outline the headline facts of Australia’s trade in paper and paperboard with the USA and at the conclusion, explain what we think the real risks are likely to be. In calendar year 2024, Australia operated a trade deficit for paper and paperboard with the USA, valued at AUD36.1 million. That is, Australia exported paper and paperboard valued at AUD139.7 million, but imports from the USA were valued at AUD175.8 million. That balance of trade is common, but there are years (see the chart below) where the balance favours Australia. Imports from the USA accounted for 4.7% of total paper and paperboard imports by value. In fact, after China, the USA was the second largest supplier to Australia. Keep in mind, imports were a staggering AUD3.700 billion in 2024. Exports to the USA accounted for 14.3% of total paper and paperboard exports by value. After New Zealand, the USA was the second largest recipient of Australian products. Exports (dominated by corrugated packaging materials) were valued at a total AUD0.977 billion in 2024. Australia’s Bilateral Balance of Trade with the USA in Paper & Paperboard: 2017 – 2024 (AUDM)Source: ABS, derived and IndustryEdge In 2024, Australia exported paper and paperboard valued at AUDFob977.5 million. Nearly one third went to New Zealand and close to 15% was delivered to the USA. Importantly, Australia’s exports went to 178 countries over the year. The chart shows the top five countries, the table shows the top 10. Australia’s Paper & Paperboard Exports by Main Country: 2024 (AUDM & %) In 2024, Australia imported paper and paperboard valued at an enormous AUDFob 3,700.4 million. China delivered 44.5% of that – almost AUD1.7 billion worth, with the USA, the second largest supplier, contributing 4.7%, closely followed by New Zealand and Malaysia. The interloper here is ‘No Country Details’ which accounted for 7.7% of total imports and arises because of importers seeking to mask the origin of some grades of paper and paperboard. The chart shows the top five countries, the table shows the top 10, but again, it is relevant that Australia received shipments from 137 countries in 2024. Australia’s Paper & Paperboard Imports by Main Country: 2024 (AUDM & %) The hyperbole of the US President describing the imposition of universal tariffs as ‘Liberation Day’ requires comment. We need to unpick this language, in order to understand its real meaning. In imposing unilateral tariffs, the USA is withdrawing from the eight decades long multilateral rules-based system that has governed international trade since the end of World War II. If this is liberation, it is liberation from obligations to other nations and to the orderly conduct of world affairs. That is potentially very dangerous, beyond mere trade in goods. This approach arguably seeks to make every country a client-state of the USA, where each negotiates independently with the regime that is seeking to use trade as a weapon. Trade, however, is not bilateral. That is, Australia does not trade with the USA, for instance, free of the context and implications of its trade with other nations. If Australia could wipe out the 10% tariff on its imports to the USA, for instance, it would be able to export a bit more, at the expense of other countries, not so fortunate. Perhaps the USA would rise from recipient of about 5% of Australia’s total exports to 6% even? We cannot know at this point, and we cannot accurately calculate which countries would be the collateral ‘losers’ in that scenario. Meantime, the majority of our exports go to countries like China, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Japan. All these countries face higher tariffs for imports into the USA than Australia. If they are frozen from the US economy, what happens to Australia’s exports to those countries, much of which are inputs into goods they later export, including to the USA? We can expect Australia’s exports will decline or at least be disrupted. So, if Australia was to rush to do a ‘special friends’ deal, the ‘loser’ would be another country with whom Australia trades, and that would rebound on Australia, one way or another. It is difficult to be a winner in that situation. It may therefore be folly to argue that ‘we are a better friend’ and can do a ‘better deal’ with the USA, than can other countries. There is no better deal, precisely because the world is a multilateral trading environment. The only good deal is one that retains, respects and even enforces multilateralism in trade. Countries that make the mistake of rushing to do bilateral deals, rather than supporting a return to rationalism, will be cutting off their nose to spite their face. It appears the USA is rushing headlong into the arms of significant inflation and likely recession by increasing prices on everything it imports. The forlorn hope – indeed the promise implied by the term ‘liberation day’ – is that long-lost US manufacturing will return, to replace imports that are now being priced out of the US market by the imposition of tariffs. Tariffs have been proven to have some capacity to protect existing domestic industries from outrageous trade attacks from more powerful countries. Some, but not much. As […]

The native timber industry has been dealt a blow by the High Court as it kept the door open for environmental groups to prosecute law-breaking loggers. A decision, centring on a battle to protect habitat for three types of gliders, was immediately described as a “huge win” for native forests and the community at large. Source: Nine News The nation’s highest court upheld a NSW court’s decision allowing private people or entities to bring cases to enforce state forestry laws. “This marks the end of the rule that only the Environment Protection Authority can prosecute the Forestry Corporation for their illegal logging,” environmental law expert and Greens MP Sue Higginson told AAP. “No longer will internal government deals protect the Forestry Corporation from being prosecuted for their illegal actions. “This is a huge win for South East Forest Rescue (SEFR), the community at large, and especially for our precious native forests.” SEFR says it has damning evidence of illegal activities in NSW state forests and the High Court challenge by Forestry Corporation was an attempt to avoid answering it. Its case sought to minimise the effects of forestry operations on three forest-dependent marsupials living in southeast Australia: the southern greater glider, yellow-bellied glider and squirrel glider. The southern greater glider, which is about the size of a house cat, is listed as endangered while the other two are considered endangered in some areas and vulnerable elsewhere. Forestry Corporation, which manages NSW’s native timber and plantation industry, had argued third parties had no standing to bring civil enforcement proceedings. But the High Court found cases could be brought by people whose private interests were affected or who has a special interest, such as long-standing concern about logging and its effect on certain species. The case will now return to the Land and Environment Court later this year. SEFR is seeking court orders to restrain Forestry Corporation from logging in NSW north and south coast state forests unless proper surveys for greater gliders, yellow-bellied gliders, and squirrel gliders are completed, and appropriate protections around their den trees are put in place. The High Court judgment is another blow to the native logging industry in Australia. The industry has been haemorrhaged money in NSW amid environmental court battles and faces large swathes of forest being protected from logging in a proposed Great Koala National Park. Victoria ended native forest logging in 2024, as did Western Australia, the home of sought-after karri, jarrah and wandoo woods. The WA government said the closure reflected the changing climate and community attitudes about an “unsustainable” part of the industry. Tasmania plans, however, to capitalise on mainland jitters, pledging to let loggers into up to 40,000 hectares of native forest previously set aside as a “wood bank”.

Prolonged drought conditions in the Green Triangle are killing pine trees and increasing disease risks, threatening long-term timber growth, according to the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub. Source: Timberbiz South Australia’s South East and Victoria’s neighbouring Western District are experiencing their driest conditions on record, which forestry industry representatives have told the ABC is now taking its toll. Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub general manager Tony Wright told the ABC forestry pine plantations were planted on a 30-year rotation. He said the current drought damage had stunted tree growth, which was unable to be recovered throughout the trees’ life cycle. “Trees that would tend to shut down, particularly softwood, they take the water that’s available to them in the environment, but they obviously have a limitation about how deep [their roots can go],” he told the ABC. “They will start to shut down their growth and these are 30-year crops. “So, an impact on growth in any particular year will affect the yield at the end of that rotation and that then will affect the entire supply chain around that.” University of South Australia Forestry Centre of Excellence director Professor Jeff Morrell told the ABC that due to the long lifespan of plantations; it could take months or years for damage or disease to become noticeable. “We’re looking at trees that are stressed and it will take a while for some of that to really show up,” he said. “The other part of that will be because those trees are stressed, we’ll start to see some insects and diseases start to become a problem and that can build on itself.” Mr Wright said with warmer and drier climate conditions expected in the future, the industry was running a number of studies to drought-proof timber plantations. He said the Green Triangle region remained a viable place for timber plantations, despite the drying climate. “We’ve been doing a lot of work as an industry, through Tree Breeding Australia, improving their genetics every year,” he told the ABC. “But this particular season is one of the driest on record and also there’s been a shift in the season as well. “So, we don’t have any science or data that is of a comparable period.” The Green Triangle region supplies around 34% of Australia’s structural timber for housing construction. Master Builders Association SA chief executive Will Frogley told the ABC that current timber supply was meeting demand, but he wanted Australia to stay self-sufficient. “A lot of Australians would probably be shocked to know we import a lot of timber for industry, it also comes from other states,” he said. “Most people would think in a country like Australia it’s quite incredible we haven’t been able to develop enough supply for our local building industry. “It probably highlights some problems and mistakes that have been made over the years.” An SA government spokesperson told the ABC that the forestry industry had been in-volved in discussions ahead of the government’s $55 million drought support package announced on Tuesday. The spokesperson said the forestry industry had advocated for increased mental health support for producers and local business programs, which were included in the drought funding.