International Forest Industries December - January 2012 now online. Book into Feb - March 2012 and beyond

With weaker demand for lumber around the world, sawlog prices fell in a majority of the 21 markets tracked by the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). The Global Conifer Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) declined in the 3Q for the first time since the 1Q/09.

With a few exceptions, prices fell in both local currencies and in US dollar terms. The only region that saw any substantial price increase in the 3Q was British Columbia, where prices were up 5-7 percent from the 2Q. This region has benefited from higher lumber exports and production has gone up during 2011.

The biggest price declines the past quarter occurred in Japan, Sweden, Poland and Russia; prices were down between 6-12 percent from the 2Q/11. The three latter countries are major exporters of lumber, and shipments to European markets and Northern Africa have fallen this summer and fall. (more…)

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As a result of global wood pellet supply significantly exceeding demand during the last two to three years, industrial wood pellet prices in Europe have been flat to decreasing slightly on a euro basis. Prices increased from €115/tonne in July 2007 to €140/tonne at the beginning of 2009. Since then, they have declined to a low of €125/tonne at the end of 2010, and have increased slightly to €133/tonne at the end of 2011.

Large pellet exporters to Europe (e.g., Canada, the U.S., the Baltics and Russia) tend to sell to the industrial market, while many European producers must sell to the higher-priced domestic wholesale market (+25%-30%), and the even higher-priced domestic “bagged” DIY/retail market (+50%-55%).

A very important factor in the global production/consumption equation is the fact that the European market consumes about 85% of the world’s pellet production. This means that most large producers in non-European countries rely heavily on the European industrial pellet market.

Source: International Wood Markets Group, www.woodmarkets.com

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What a year it’s been for those involved in carbon markets. A raft of new legislation, a jump followed by a dramatic drop-off in carbon pricing and then a slow-down in trading. The roller coaster ride has caused plenty of angst for those foresters, emitters and investors with an interest in carbon forestry. Carbon markets, both in Australasia and internationally, have changed dramatically in just 12 months.

Last year over 250 forestry and finance business leaders came together for Carbon Forestry 2011. This was the first event of its type focussing on carbon forestry and carbon trading opportunities. Planning is already underway by the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) to design the Carbon Forestry 2012 event for Australasian foresters, financiers, investors, carbon traders and brokers and those involved in carbon offsetting. It’s planned to run again in Auckland on 22-23 August 2012.

At this early stage we would be interested in hearing from those companies or individuals that would like the opportunity to present - or be involved in displaying at the August programme. If keen on being involved in this year’s Carbon Forestry 2012 event, please email ken.wilson@fiea.org.nz BEFORE Friday 17 February.

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The latest investment in the continuing expansion of production capacity at A&J Scott saw a new chipper installed on one the key production lines to cope with the increasing flow of timber through the mill.The Bruks BK-DH 365×560, supplied by Soderhamn Eriksson, is a big, strong machine and is one of the best designed and successful chippers Bruks have ever built. The large mouth at 365mm x 560mm paired with a 110kw motor allow it to produce approx. 60m3 per hour of wood chips. This is designed for high production mills and also useful for lines producing larger items such as sleepers, which the company has enjoyed particular success with recently. Other features of the machine include:

• Noise suppression hood
• Spring loaded knife clamps for quick and safe knife change
• Load controlled feedworks which provide energy savings
• “Drop-away” anvil to protect the machine from accidental damage
• Screw auger under the feedworks to collect material that falls through the feed rollers - keeping the machine running efficiently without any build of waste underneath.

Our picture shows the existing chipper being replaced by the new one. The older machine will now be refurbished and put onto another of the company’s production lines. http://ajscott.co.uk/news/expansion-continues-at-aj-scott                       /www.bruks.com/en

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 The 50th GradExpertTM will soon be delivered to the Canfor Group in Prince George, British Columbia. It’s not their first GradExpert either; in fact the Canfor Group has purchased 15 GradExpert lumber grade optimizers so far - a fitting testimony to  our customers’ faith in its capabilities!

A large part of the continued success of the GradExpert - from the very first delivery in 2004 to the 50th this year - is the fact that COMACT has always and will continue to improve, perfect and polish this product. COMACT strives to offer state-of-the-art equipment to all our clients, keeping us ahead of the competition. After all, we’ve had 50 opportunities to perfect the formula and to achieve the standard to create an automated classification system which exceeds the human eye.

http://www.comact.com/en-ca/solution.php

(more…)

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 The KWF-Meeting ranks among the biggest Forestry Demofairs in the world. This is the most important international meeting of the forest sector in 2012.

The 16^th KWF- Meeting is scheduled to take place from June 13 to 16 in Bopfingen (Eastern Swabian Alb District).

Traditionally, the KWF- Meeting consists of three elements - Forest Machinery and Innovations DemoFair, field trips and a scientific congress.

http://www.kwf-tagung.org/en/home.html (more…)

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