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issue 119 | 05.04.10 | Page 1
Hungry for wood Asia glutton for New Zealand radiata as demand drives up prices for processors A MASSIVE appetite in Asia for timber, particularly noticeable in wood-hungry China, is pushing timber prices higher for local processors, according to the New Zealand Pine Manufacturers Association. Chief executive Lawrie Halkett says this is a significant and rapid development for the industry. In the case of China, the falloff of other suppliers, notably Russia, has meant greater demand for New Zealand wood, especially logs and lumber, and therefore higher wood prices for international and local players. “Over the past year, China imported more than half of the logs we exported, and nearly a quarter of our export lumber,” Mr Halkett said. “In addition to the more
This Issue • Roundtable examines timeline on RFAs • Nils Koren takes helm for timber importers
Nostalgia:
China’s big appetite .. for New Zealand Wood.
traditional industrial end uses, Chinese manufacturers are now using our radiata pine for veneer, plywood and many other high-end value-added uses.”
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This potentially systemic shift in sourcing patterns from China is being exacerbated by mounting demand in other Pacific Rim
The unforgettable 90th HHI convention • Bids narrow for Queensland plantations • Tasmanian forest industry ‘in the balance’ • Japanese buyers seek FSC wood
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issue 119 | 05.04.10 | Page 1