Forest products

A new Five-Year Outlook shows no slowdown in wood products imports but China’s housing and economy will need additional government stimulus to get construction moving later in 2013.

US lumber markets are finding good support from the US housing recovery. Housing starts are continually increasing and turning into real demand for timber. Saw mills in the US have been burned by predicting housing recovery in the past, and as such have held back from increasing production.

Sometime in October, 2012, a farmer in the northeastern corner of Andhra Pradesh state in India will plant a very special sapling.

New Zealand log exports have remained consistent this year, now recording a 7th consecutive month above 1million m³ in August. Year to date figures show a 3% increase in exports compared to the year to August 2011 on the back of a strong month in June.

Canada has seen a massive surge in demand for exports of its forestry products, particularly in the Far East.