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A new, UK-based trade association focused on biomass heating was launched in June. The Wood Fuel and Heating Association aims to provide a clear, informed and responsible voice for the UK wood fuel and heating sector. Biomass Magazine “Wood fuel and biomass heating already support homes, businesses and industry across the UK while also contributing to forestry management, rural employment and the wider transition towards low-carbon heat,” the group said in a statement. “Despite this, the sector has historically lacked a single coordinated body focused on representing those interests consistently, constructively and with practical industry expertise. “WFHA has been created to help address that need and to powerfully advocate the benefits of the sector,” the organization continued. The WFHA will represent organizations across the UK wood fuel and heating sector supply chain, including wood fuel producers; wood fuel suppliers and distributors; boiler and appliance manufacturers; installers, engineers and maintenance providers; equipment suppliers; landowners; commercial and industrial heat users; and professional and advisory organizations. According to the WFHA, it will represent members’ interests in the areas of air quality and emissions policy; renewable heat and energy policy; sustainability and fuel standards; the future role of sustainable wood heating on the UK; biomass boiler standards; and training, skills and job creation.

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Kesla has expanded its range of accessories for harvester heads by introducing the new BB360 rotator, enabling unlimited rotation without traditional movement restrictions. The solution responds to the growing demands for efficiency, productivity, and machine utilisation in forestry operations, as well as to increasingly demanding working conditions. Source: Timberbiz The BB360 rotator eliminates the restrictions related to hose routing between the boom and the harvester head, which have traditionally limited the working area and increased the risk of hose and control cable damage. These challenges have often led to unplanned downtime and additional maintenance costs. Similar types of solutions are in use among other harvester head manufacturers in various configurations, and the concept has proven to be reliable in demanding field conditions. The new rotator solution enhances working efficiency and allows operators to focus on what matters most, as there is no longer a need to constantly monitor the orientation of the harvester head in relation to energy transfer and cabling. This enables smoother and more uninterrupted work, even in challenging environments. The KESLA BB360 rotator is manufactured in Finland and is currently available installed on KESLA 24RH-III and 26RH-III harvester heads. Availability will be expanded in the future to meet customer needs across different markets.

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China remains one of the world’s major importers of softwood logs and lumber, but its softwood sawlog imports have declined significantly in recent years. According to ResourceWise’s Wood Market Prices (WMP), China’s softwood sawlog import volumes in 2025 were less than half their 2021 peak and were down 17% year-over-year. Source: ResourceWise The decline reflects both weaker demand and changes in global supply. While there are forecasts for improvement in China’s construction market in 2026 or 2027, the WMP report indicates there is limited evidence that this will lead to a rapid or substantial increase in sawlog imports. The main factor behind the decline has been reduced demand from China’s construction sector. The country’s real estate crisis began after several major developers collapsed in 2021. This reduced demand for construction timber over the following years. Some forecasts suggest China’s construction market may begin to improve this year or next, supported by infrastructure spending and urban renewal. However, any recovery is expected to be gradual. A stronger construction market could support higher timber demand, but import volumes are unlikely to return quickly to the levels seen in 2021. Supply-side issues have also affected China’s softwood sawlog imports. Russia’s log export ban, reduced supply from Germany following spruce bark beetle damage, and China’s temporary ban in 2025 on US log imports all changed the flow of logs into China. New Zealand is China’s largest supplier of softwood sawlogs. In 2025, it supplied more than 75% of China’s total softwood sawlog imports. Canada was the second-largest supplier. China has accounted for around 85% of New Zealand’s softwood sawlog exports between 2017 and 2025, rising to more than 90% in the past two years, according to the WMP report. However, New Zealand’s export volumes may decline in the coming years as planted radiata pine forests reach maturity, and harvest volumes fall. This could affect future availability and pricing for China’s sawlog imports. China is also increasing its use of engineered wood products, including cross-laminated timber and laminated veneer lumber. These products are supported in part by domestic green construction policies and the development of local manufacturing capacity. This shift may influence future demand for imported sawlogs. Many engineered wood producers in China use a mix of domestic plantation wood and imported logs, but changes in product use and supply costs could affect how much imported material is needed. Overall, China’s softwood sawlog import market remains shaped by weaker construction demand, changing supplier availability, and evolving wood product use. While construction activity may improve, current conditions do not point to a fast return to peak import levels. To learn more, download our full market insight report, Understanding the Factors Behind China’s Declining Sawlog Imports. The report can be accessed here: https://www.resourcewise.com/report-understanding-the-factors-behind-chinas-declining-sawlog-imports?hsCtaAttrib=215567099932

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One of the world’s largest certifiers of responsible forests is cracking down on risky work in erosion-prone forests, which could affect smaller plantation growers. Source: RNZ The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was working to reduce health and safety risks in forests that were not certified under its program, but supplied what was known as “controlled” wood into mixed class products. The Germany-based organisation’s strict certification aimed to prevent illegal harvesting, human rights violations, to reject the use of genetically modified organisms and protect conservation values. The FSC label found on paper or wood products aimed to assure shoppers that the forests where the wood came from were sustainably managed. Under its “mix” product class, up to 30% of the wood’s came from either recycled or “controlled wood” sources (not FSC-certified), on products included packaging, paper or furniture. The FSC was proposing more than a dozen new risk mitigation measures in “controlled” wood areas, largely relating to erodible soils. The consultation was part of its global review of risk assessments affecting 60 countries, including Aotearoa. Most of New Zealand’s large foresters were FSC-certified, but up to 490,000 of exotic plantation forests were owned by small growers, most of whom were not certified. FSC Australia and New Zealand senior policy manager Stefan Jensen said it was proposing significant due diligence changes in New Zealand, especially in steep and erosion-prone areas. “Deforestation isn’t a major concern; our concern is more about work health and safety, and issues related to those highly erodible soils you have in areas of New Zealand,” said Jensen. He said the current risk assessment included one specified risk that was relatively easy for companies to meet, but more were being proposed. “The revised draft risk assessment suggested three specified risk categories where forest managers are required to mitigate that risk before sourcing,” he said. “Three that were nationally applicable. “And then specifically for very high-risk erosion prone areas, [consultants] suggested an additional 15 indicators to ensure materials from those areas is not from unacceptable sources.” However, the certifier considered New Zealand as a low-risk forestry nation across various metrics like deforestation risk, due to strong regional and national commercial forestry standards. Jensen said forestry was a relatively risky business. “There’s unfortunately in the past been quite a few fatalities, most of them not in FSC-certified forests, but this is about sourcing from non-certified forests,” he said. “There has been quite a number of fatalities that the consultants have reached the conclusion that there is a significant risk of sourcing from non-certified areas where workers’ rights could be a little bit under pressure.” He said the changes were to address potentially greater health and safety risks for workers, and to comply with incoming requirements under the European Union Deforestation Regulation. Parts of the forestry sector were concerned the proposals might be unworkable in New Zealand forests and could affect sawmills’ general participation in the scheme. The Wood Processors and Manufacturers’ Association saw FSC’s proposals as duplicating and exceeding current regulatory controls, “without clear benefit”. Chief executive Mark Ross said an example was the use of the term “red zone” which under its framework determined risk thresholds but was itself unclear. “For local harvesters the risk mitigation measures are impracticable and unachievable, with confusion between harvesting and engineering,” said Ross. “This puts FSC at risk in New Zealand, which is hugely unfortunate because it misunderstands the NZ situation and imposes unrealistic mitigation measures, that essentially prohibit controlled wood from a large part of the country’s forest sector.” Ross said mills relied on FSC-certified logs, and changes could mean they may not be able to stay within the FSC systems. “If New Zealand plantation forests could not meet the FSC requirements, then mills would not be able to source certified wood products.” Forest Owners Association chief executive Elizabeth Hegg said it supported work to improve environmental and health and safety outcomes in forests, but changes must be proportionate, risk-based and practical. “We’ve given FSC some feedback that some of the definitions weren’t clear or were not standardised for the New Zealand environment, so it makes it hard for us to know exactly what’s intended. “Where there are terms like high-risk areas or critical slopes, that those are clearly defined so that we all know exactly what we’re talking about.” Hegg said most of its members were FSC-certified, but the proposals might pose challenges for smaller growers who would face new mitigation measures. “We also had some concerns about operational feasibility and participation,” she said. “And there was some duplication in what was proposed that would in some cases actually make it very hard to achieve just from a bureaucratic perspective.” FSC was reviewing submissions on its draft proposals for New Zealand. It certified about 160 million hectares of forests across 70,000 organisations globally. New Zealand’s total 1.7 million hectares of exotic plantation forestry covered about 7.8% of the country’s total land area.

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A new VAGO report reflects the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s (DEECA) work improving systems and processes when it comes to bushfire risk in Victoria. Source: Timberbiz The department says its people have undertaken an enormous amount of work improving systems and processes since 2020. The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office Follow-up: Reducing Bushfire Risks report acknowledges this with 21 of the 29 recommendations complete. DEECA now has accepted in part or in full four new recommendations from the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office. The new recommendations form part of the Reducing Bushfire Risks report, which reviews FFMVic and CFA progress towards recommendations set out in its 2020 audit of the same name. The report reflects DEECA’s program of work to improve how it manages bushfire risk, including improving risk-modelling tools, datasets and statewide bushfire management planning. FFMVic Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman says the report illustrates progress, while demonstrating the complexity of bushfire management. Hotter, drier and longer fire seasons driven by climate change are increasing bushfire risk in Victoria. In the 2020 audit Reducing Bushfire Risks it looked at whether the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (now the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, or the department) and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) were effectively working together to reduce Victoria’s bushfire risk. Recommendations were made about how they measure, plan and deliver actions to reduce bushfire fuel. The Reducing Bushfire Risks report can be found at https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/report/follow-reducing-bushfire-risks

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Matariki Forests is celebrating its first shipment of logs from Bluff to India since 2020. Following the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in April, improved access to the Indian market is already providing New Zealand’s forestry sector with new opportunities. Source: Timberbiz Hamish Fitzgerald, Matariki Forests Southland Regional Manager, says the shipment represents a significant re-opening of the market for the lower South Island. “Southland is home to Matariki Forests’ largest estate, and the wider Southland-Otago region is New Zealand’s second-largest forestry region,” he said. “Over 95% of forestry exports will become tariff-free once the agreement enters into force.  The removal of typical 5%-11% tariffs will improve returns to forest owners, helping to ease financial pressures currently facing the industry. “This shipment represents an important step in re-establishing supply chains and relationships with our Indian customers.  There is positive momentum with suppliers and customers working to rebuild the trade lane ahead of the anticipated FTA ratification by the New Zealand government.” With an estimated sustainable harvest of around four million cubic metres annually, local processors continue to invest in capability and play a critical role in the forestry value chain.  Export markets are also essential to the sector, helping balance supply and demand, maximising utilisation of the resource, and support regional employment and economic activity. The total shipment is approximately 44,000 tonnes of logs with 40% of the cargo sourced from Southland (18,000 tonnes) and the balance will then be loaded at Tauranga Port, before heading to Kandla Port in India. “South Port is pleased to support the first loading of logs to India from the region since 2020 and looks forward to continuing its support of this export opportunity,” said Geoff Finnerty, Interim CEO, South Port. The logs will be processed into a wide range of products including plywood, construction timber, furniture, such as tables and cabinetry, and interior applications such as doors and wall panels. Wood and wood products are New Zealand’s largest goods export to India worth NZ$134 million in the year to June 2025. NZ Institute of Economic Research estimates that forestry and wood processing directly employs around 1,950 people in the Otago and Southland regions and supports many more jobs, including transport, port operations and construction.  In total, the sector directly contributes around $348 million to regional GDP.

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