« Forestry finds backed in investment press Hardwood prices increased in final quarter of 2011

The latest Hardwood Wood Fibre Price Index, which is for the final three months of 2011, shows that hardwood prices rose by 5 per cent compared with the same quarter the year before.

The rise was the third highest ever recorded and shows that, despite some reports of falling wood prices, the overall trend is on the up. Although the overall price was down by 3.6 per cent compared with the third quarter of 2011, analysts remain positive that the timber prices will find their balance soon enough.

The news follows reports this week of a 4 per cent rise in timber exports from Finland, which is enjoying the effects of the increase in timber demand from emerging economies, such as India and China.

The Softwood Wood Fibre Price Index also rose by 1.3 per cent compared with the end of 2010, although it also dropped slightly from the highest point recorded in the third quarter of last year.

Overall, analysts believe that within the coming decades, the demand for timber products will exceed supply, as Europe, Asia and South America continue to demand more and more to fuel their expansion. As the demand increases, so will the price of timber, which will benefit those invested in forestry investment schemes like the plantation scheme that Greenwood Management runs in Brazil.