Quantifying Australia’s outdoor timber market

Friday 10 Aug 2012

 
How big is the Australian market for outdoor and infrastructure timber such as agricultural rounds, landscaping products, poles, and bridge and wharf timbers? A recent FWPA funded report examined the market size and priorities, and recommended the sector, which uses approximately 37 per cent of the sawn and round wood produced, be considered as significant in the industry.

Over the last 10 years the overall market volume has increased considerably, with sawn treated plantation pine seeing the largest growth, particularly as landscaping sleepers. In general the use of sawn structural timber has increased.

The agricultural round wood market on the other hand has declined to half the size it was when last measured in 2007. The report suggests this is a result of the prolonged drought that reduced demand and less new planting in the wine industry. In addition, there has been a reduction in the use of hardwood round as transmission poles.

The most dominant product in the outdoor and infrastructure timber market by volume is treated plantation pine (such as radiata, slash and hoop pine), which represents between 84 to 86 per cent of the entire market. The other main species include Australian hardwoods with an in-ground natural durability of class 2 or better and imported species—the main one being merbau.

The report forecasts some likely changes to outdoor timber use over the next 10 years and identified a number of areas requiring further R&D work. These include the impact of bushfire design regulations on exterior timber; requirements for disposal of treated timbers; improving long-term performance of timber finishes such as stains, coatings and paints; developing composite timber transmission poles; and identifying new resource for timber railway sleepers.

Click here for the FWPA Report.


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