To the Editor
In a recent Daily Timber News it was quoted in 2015 China imported 15.61 million cubic metres of timber products costing $3.82 billion dollars.
That is an average of $244.71 per cubic metre. This is a very low average.
Also, there was an article in the same bulletin about Australia hosting a Special Forestry Investment &Trade Forum in Sydney on 11 October.
I struggle to see what could come from such a forum when the expectation from China is an average price per cubic metre seems to be set at $245.00.
The high quality of Australian timber is much more valuable than $245.00 m3. Only our lowest grade pine non structural is about the $200.00 mark.
And if the Chinese invested in plantations in Australia, the timber should bring a higher average higher price regardless who is the owner of the forest.
Yours etc,
Maurie Killeen – Stratford, Victoria, retired HW and Pine timber processor for 55 years.
