Stats show slowing Australian timber industryFriday 18 Nov 2011 In last week’s issue of Offcuts we provided a link to the latest ABARES statistics for the Australian forestry and wood products sector. Australian Forest and Wood Products Australia chief executive David Pollard said in the Age the figures confirmed the difficult trading conditions for Australian wood products manufacturers.Forest product imports rose by 5 per cent to AU$4.4 billion in 2010-11, particularly wood-based panels and sawn wood imports, up 16 per cent and 10 per cent respectively, according to the March and June quarters 2011 Australian Forest and Wood Products Statistics report. Over the same period, exports rose by 9.4 per cent to AU$2.47 billion, still maintaining Australia's AU$2 billion trade deficit in wood products. Hardwood woodchip exports were up, mainly plantation fibre from Western Australia and Victoria, while roundwood exports rebounded in value by 43 per cent. Other key features were: - New plantation rates decreased, falling by 72 per cent since 2006-07 to 21,000 hectares. - A continued slowing in new housing construction activity. Dr Pollard said a 14 per cent drop in new house construction commencements in 2010-11 clearly showed the difficult conditions and continuing threat to Australia's economic health. "When combined with increased imports of processed products, decreased plantation establishment and the looming carbon tax implications, we have a very difficult trading environment for Australian wood product manufacturing," he said. |
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