Australasia's home for timber news and information

China FTA too harsh on Australian pulp and paper

The political rhetoric on the China Free Trade Agreement is glossing over the threat to Australian manufacturing, including 15,000 jobs in Australia’s pulp, paper and fibre packaging industry. Source: The New Daily The FTA will see tariffs imposed on some Chinese manufactured products
Continue Reading →

No ministry for forestry under Turnbull

The Australian forestry industry is expressing disappointment that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has not re-instated a full Minister for Forestry. Source: ABC Rural The industry took the recent Prime Ministerial change as an opportunity to ask for a minister dedicated to the industr
Continue Reading →

Wood flooring market in China growth

Wood flooring sees growth in the flooring industry of China up from 33.9% in 2009 to 36.2% in 2014, being the second largest flooring product. Source: PR Wire In 2014, Chinese wood flooring market, affected by the depressed real estate sector at home, witnessed a slowdown in growth ra
Continue Reading →

Softwood lumber prices worldwide

Despite reduced demand for lumber in the US, Europe and Asia, lumber production and trade volumes were relatively high during the first half of 2015, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. Source: Marketwatch The supply/demand imbalance resulted in downward price pressure in key markets
Continue Reading →

Bioenergy opportunities for NZ

IEA Bioenergy Task 39, a group of international experts working to commercialize sustainable transportation biofuels featured an update on opportunities for biofuels in New Zealand. Source: Biomass magazine Ian Suckling, a Task 39 New Zealand member and various other contributors auth
Continue Reading →

Trust to create wood processing cluster

A multi-million dollar investment by New Zealand’s Eastland Community Trust has given a green light to the creation of a wood processing “cluster” and centre of excellence at the former Prime Sawmill. Source: The Gisborne Herald The trust has approved NZ$7.4 million to buy the sawmill
Continue Reading →

More taxpayer compo for Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government is set to give more taxpayer money to people affected by the severe downturn in the forestry industry, as part of a hardship program to be announced within weeks. Source: ABC News Already $85 million has been provided to Tasmanians devastated after the collaps
Continue Reading →

Wood Resene design awards

Stylish new timber buildings in Christchurch have been recognised in national design awards. Source: Stuff.co.nz A factory-built modular home design and two office buildings took honours in the recent New Zealand Wood Resene Timber Design Awards. The rebuilt Trimble Navigation office
Continue Reading →

Tambo sawmill without timber allocation

A western Queensland council says it is ludicrous it still cannot get a timber allocation for a sawmill. Source: ABC News The Blackall-Tambo Regional Council bought the disused Tambo Sawmill last year, hoping to revive the facility and create jobs. However, Mayor Barry Muir said despi
Continue Reading →

On-port log storage increase in New Zealand

A new cargo storage warehouse at Marsden in New Zealand will help Northport deal with its increase in on-port log storage, which has already given the company a lift in revenue this year. Sources: The Northern Advocate, The New Zealand Herald Marsden Maritime Holdings (MMH) recorded a
Continue Reading →