Friday Offcuts – 5 February 2026
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! Welcome to this week’s issue of Friday Offcuts.This is a slightly earlier edition due to tomorrow’s Waitangi Day public holiday in New Zealand. Energy efficiency and industry competitiveness lead our coverage this week, with WPMA and EECA urging wood processors to unlock meaningful cost and emissions savings through practical operational improvements. In Australia, policy also comes into focus, as SAFPA’s state election platform highlights growing concern over cheap timber imports and the mounting pressure on domestic manufacturers from surging LVL volumes and shifting trade conditions. Sustainability and long-term value creation also feature strongly, led by Australia’s largest First Nations–led carbon forestry initiative on the Tiwi Islands, alongside Forico’s latest Natural Capital Report and progress in radiata pine genetics to future-proof supply. Market dynamics round out the picture, with updates on New Zealand log pricing, China’s evolving import mix, and new pathways for Tasmania’s private growers. Finally, we look to the future of the sector through workforce development, safer log haulage resources, timber design excellence, and even changes to cricket bat laws. Read these stories and more in this week’s packed issue of Friday Offcuts.
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This week we have for you:
Wood industry encouraged to boost energy efficiency
The Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association says the
industry needs to seize efficiency opportunities to reduce energy costs
and fuel use.“A lot of our sector’s emissions come from energy, as well as a large proportion of ongoing operational costs. We’re increasingly seeing businesses taking steps to use less energy because it’s a win–win; lower bills and lower emissions,” says Mark Ross, WPMA Chief Executive. EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) says there’s never been a more important time for businesses to consider their energy use, with costs rising and growing uncertainty about the security of supply. “The easiest and most cost-effective first step businesses can take is to see how they can operate more efficiently. Many businesses can save 10-30% off their energy bills by doing simple adjustments like boiler tuning or fixing leaky valves,” says Paul Bull, Manager Regional and Sector Partnerships, EECA. One of the country’s leading packaging manufacturers, Oji Fibre Solutions (OjiFS), has slashed nearly a fifth of its LPG use at its Christchurch box plant. After installing a data-driven platform to analyse and collect data to help fine tune its operation, OjiFS found it was losing a large amount of heat through the plant’s corrugating preheating rollers. Through a process of ongoing tuning the plant has been able to send automated decisions to its boiler and reduce LPG fuel use by 18%. Andrew Bavis, National Operations Improvement Manager, OjiFS Packaging, said the process has supported a learning culture at the plant, enabling the team to continue refining operations. “It’s really important to us that we’re leaving the environment in as good if not better state than we found it and that’s a really important part of what we do. We always have a focus on how we can do more with the same or less input,” Andrew says. The Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association says it’s a clear example of what progress is possible in the industry. Source: WPMA Image credit: Oji Fibre Solutions South Australia’s forest industries launch election platform
The South Australian Forest Products Association (SAFPA) has released its 2026 State Election Policy Platform titled,
Protecting South
Australia’s Sovereign Timber Capability, outlining a long-term vision to grow regional jobs, strengthen
sovereign capability and secure South Australia’s timber future
– alongside a new policy paper identifying the immediate actions
needed to protect domestic timber manufacturing.The release follows a milestone year marking 150 years since South Australia established the nation’s first commercial plantation forests – a legacy that continues to underpin regional communities and the State’s manufacturing strength. “South Australia is proudly the birthplace of Australia’s plantation forestry industry, and for 150 years regional South Australians have grown, harvested and manufactured timber that has helped build this State,” said SAFPA Chief Executive Nathan Paine. “The forest industries contribute nearly $3 billion to the State’s economy each year and directly and indirectly support more than 21,000 jobs,” he said. “South Australia produces 35 per cent of the nation’s housing timber, 25 per cent of particleboard and 60 per cent of agricultural posts, while supplying nearly half the fibre used for pallets that keep supply chains moving – all while sequestering more than 4.6 million tonnes of CO₂-e annually.” Mr Paine said the Policy Platform builds on SAFPA’s 2021 agenda and focuses on growing the plantation estate, strengthening local manufacturing and ensuring the forest industries continue to support the state’s housing supply, employment, economy, food supply chains and decarbonisation. “At the same time, our Building Timber Capacity at Home policy paper highlights an emerging structural challenge,” he said. “Surging imports and increasing substitution toward imported lightweight steel framing are placing sustained pressure on domestic manufacturing viability and plantation investment confidence. These are not cyclical trends and they require timely, practical policy responses aligned with government priorities for housing, regional development and economic resilience.” SAFPA has welcomed the leadership shown by the Premier and Ministers Boyer and Scriven through the use of locally manufactured mass timber in major projects such as the recently opened Tonsley and Mount Gambier Technical Colleges, and Mr Paine said building on this momentum through stronger procurement alignment would help ensure government investment continues to support South Australian manufacturing capability. “This is not about protectionism, it’s about ensuring South Australia retains the sovereign capability to grow, process and manufacture one of its most essential renewable materials,” he said. The policy paper shows timber’s share of detached housing construction in South Australia has declined from 85 per cent in 2018 to 74 per cent in 2025, while imports of engineered wood products have surged, placing downward pressure on local production and long-term investment. More >> Source & image credit: South Australia Forest Products Association Australia’s largest First Nations led carbon initiative
The CEFC is investing up to $40 million alongside Australian
multi-asset investment firm, River Capital, in a landmark First Nations-led plantation forestry initiative in the Northern Territory’s
Tiwi Islands, owned by the Tiwi Plantations Corporation and
managed by plantation and carbon management investment company, Midway
Pty Ltd (Midway).The $81 million project is expected to become one of Australia’s largest nature-based carbon initiatives, planting native species for a long-rotation program, generating high-integrity Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) as well as timber. The Tiwi Plantations Corporation is owned, operated and governed by all eight Tiwi clans. The plantation initiative will deliver substantial economic benefits for the Tiwi community, including training and employment opportunities. Heechung Sung, CEFC Head of Natural Capital, said: “We are incredibly proud to support and empower the Tiwi Islands communities to achieve greater economic equity in the energy transition. Sustainable forestry plays an important role in Australia’s low carbon future, and with this project, we are creating new commercial investment models for meaningful collaboration with Indigenous communities. This investment has created a forestry industry to drive economic opportunity that will endure for generations to come.” “This initiative, delivered under the updated Plantation Forestry Method, is a unique opportunity to restore productive forest ecosystems using native species, delivering lasting carbon, environmental and economic outcomes.” The planting of 30,000 hectares of Eucalyptus pellita, trees native to Northeastern Queensland, is projected to generate around 5 million nature-based ACCUs1 under the Plantation Forestry method over the life of the plantation. This large-scale initiative is projected to increase Australia’s total plantation area by approximately 2 per cent2, meeting international demand for high quality timber products. Kim Puruntatameri, Chair of the Tiwi Plantations Corporation said: “The Tiwi Plantations Corporation represents the land for our people. We've got to look after the land very well for the next generation coming. To keep the environment strong, we need to work together with people from outside. If we work together as one, we're going to get there, we must listen to one another. Tiwi knowledge and our culture are the most important things, we need to pass the knowledge on to our grandkids.” Suzi Carp, Co-Founder and Director of River Capital, said: “We are proud to be involved in this transformational project. This investment is a rare opportunity to deliver financial, environmental and social impact at scale.” Managed by Australian plantation investment manager Midway, the plantation is expected to produce approximately 12 million cubic metres of high-value wood products. This will support long-term carbon storage through sustainable timber used in construction and reduce reliance on native forests. More >> Source & iamge credit: CEFC  NZ Log Maket January 2026 update
At Wharf Gate (AWG) prices increased by 1 NZD, as lower CFR log
prices in China were largely offset by reduced shipping costs.
February AWG prices remain under pressure due to the strengthening NZD
against the USD. While CFR log prices in China have lifted by around 2
USD, further gains will be difficult as the market moves rapidly toward
the Chinese New Year.Log demand in China remains stable in the near term but is expected to soften from the second week of February as mills prepare for holiday shutdowns. Port log inventories have continued to edge lower, although stocks typically rebuild as consumption slows then halts through the Chinese New Year period. The New Zealand forest industry will be closely monitoring NZD movements and the pace of China's post-holiday recovery in log demand as key indicators for AWG price direction. Domestically, sawmill managers and owners report a stronger start to 2026 than in 2025, with improved sawn timber demand and price increases, and there is growing optimism that this represents the early stages of a more sustained recovery. The PF Olsen Log Price Index increased $1 to $121. This is $1 above the two-year average and level with the five-year average. Domestic Log Market Sawmill managers are reporting increased demand and stronger sawn timber sales across all major product categories, with many describing the uplift as more substantial than the typical seasonal summer increase. This trend is reflected in price movements, with sawn timber prices rising by 3–5% in January and a further increase of similar magnitude scheduled for March. This demand improvement is a positive development for the domestic market. Increased local sales mean less sawn timber is directed into export channels, where returns from sales are reduced due to the strengthening NZD. Forward-looking industry reports suggest that domestic sawn timber demand may continue to firm into 2026 as seasonal demand from pallets and packaging transitions into broader residential and industrial activity later in the year. Early indicators point to a gradual pickup in construction activity from mid-2026, which would support structural and appearance-grade timber demand if realised. Export Log Markets - China CFR prices for A-grade logs for late January/early February vessel arrivals are currently in the range of 111–114 USD per JASm³, representing an average increase of around 2–3 USD over the past month. Daily pine log port offtake remains steady at approximately 55,000 m³ per day, and while softwood log inventories have been declining modestly, they are expected to rise during the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday period as consumption slows and port stocks build ahead of the break. Recent import data continues to underline the subdued state of China’s timber market. According to customs data, from January to September 2025 China’s total log and sawn wood imports have fallen year-on-year, with log and sawn wood imports down 13.2% by volume, and down 15.6% by value. Last year’s post-Chinese New Year period featured a very slow rebuild in log demand, with an extended period before activity returned to pre-holiday levels. Industry participants are hopeful that the rebound in log demand will be quicker this year, supported in part by stabilisation in some construction and manufacturing sectors. More >> Source: PF Olsen Forestry industry sounds alarm over 'cheap' timber imports
Australia's forestry industry says cheap imported timber
products are flooding the local market and taking up increased space in
local homes and buildings. South Australian Forest
Products Association (SAFPA) chief executive Nathan Paine said
international trade conditions, fuelled by US tariffs, were responsible
for imports reaching Australia at about half the price of local timber.
This timber includes laminated veneer lumber (LVL) — a construction product that competes with locally grown radiata pine. "We're seeing demand for timber being absorbed by imports coming in at prices we simply cannot meet," he said. "In that fight for competition we're not going to be successful." Analysis from Forest and Wood Products Australia showed LVL imports had increased 63 per cent in 2025 compared to a year earlier. More >> Source: ABC News Image creditL SAFPA Empowering the next generation of forestry leaders
The WIDE Trust proudly supported emerging forestry and
bioeconomy professionals at two of New Zealand’s leading industry
events last year: the Residues2Revenues 2025
Conference and the inaugural Bioeconomy Innovations
2025 Conference, held in Rotorua on 21-22 October 2025. These
events brought together nearly 300 delegates from science, industry, and
government to explore the latest innovations for extracting energy and
value from wood fibres and biowaste.Spotlight on Innovation: The Rotorua Bioeconomy Hub A highlight of the conferences was the official announcement of the $63 million Bio Factory research facility, scheduled to open next year at the Rotorua Campus of the Bioeconomy Science Institute. This commercial-scale facility will convert low-value wood, food waste, and animal by-products into high-value chemicals, glues, and bioplastics, supporting both innovation and sustainability in New Zealand’s bioeconomy. The Bio Factory aims to; (1) Identify new opportunities in wood fibre, pulp, biopolymer, packaging, and biochemical industries; (2) Increase New Zealand’s energy security by leveraging forest and waste biomass for bioenergy. Adding to the excitement, Hon Simon Watts, Minister for Energy, released the Government Wood Energy Strategy and Action Plan, signalling a national commitment to boosting biomass as a renewable energy source. Insights from Global and Local Experts The conferences featured over 32 presentations and 16 panel Q&A sessions, offering delegates insights on:
Three young professionals attended the conferences thanks to WIDE Trust sponsorship, gaining invaluable experience:
The 2025 Residues2Revenues and Bioeconomy Innovations conferences reinforced that New Zealand’s forestry and bioeconomy sectors are evolving beyond traditional timber exports. Delegates explored how innovative processing, emerging technologies, and high-value bio-products can:
Source: WIDE Trust  New Australian Log Haulage Manual & resources are availableForestWorks is pleased to announce the completion of the new Log Haulage Manual for the Forestry Log Haulage Code of Practice and a companion suite of educational training videos. These resources provide concise, practical guidance to support safer log transport and is available through the ForestWorks website.The Log Haulage Manual for the Code of Practice is a clear, practical reference for drivers, contractors, supervisors and managers involved in hauling logs. The manual explains how safety duties under the Heavy Vehicle National Law and Workplace Health and Safety legislation apply to everyday forestry operations. It focuses on the areas that matter most to risk reduction, including load restraint, vehicle condition, forest road driving, site communication, and worker fitness for duty. Three educational training videos are available:
Source: ForestWorks The Colin MacKenzie Award: Elevating timber excellence
Timber Queensland has announced the establishment of the Colin
MacKenzie Award for Technical Excellence in Timber Application and
Use, calling on industry partners across Australia to
contribute seed funding to bring the new national award to life.The award will honour the late Colin MacKenzie, who passed away on 24 March 2025, and whose four decades of leadership profoundly shaped timber engineering, Australian Standards, and building compliance. The initiative responds to widespread calls from industry to formally recognise Colin’s legacy and continue the work he championed lifting capability, innovation, and confidence in the use of timber across Australian construction. “Colin’s influence can be seen in almost every aspect of timber engineering and compliance standards,” said Timber Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mick Stephens. “This award will recognise the next generation of innovators and continue the legacy of technical leadership he dedicated his life to,” he said. Timber Queensland is now seeking seed funding contributions from industry to establish the award as a permanent national honour. The Colin MacKenzie Award will recognise individuals or small teams who are advancing timber engineering and design across Australia. “The award is intended for engineers, architects, designers, builders and researchers who are delivering real technical impact and helping to strengthen capability across the sector,” said Mick Stephens “Judging will focus on technical merit, innovation, and the contribution a project or individual makes to improving knowledge, collaboration and sustainability in timber use and consider alignment with Colin’s vision for timber as a high‑performance, compliant and fit‑for‑purpose construction material.” Mr Stephens said recipients will be honoured at a major industry event. “We want this to be a significant national recognition, supported by an honour roll and a cash bursary that encourages excellence and inspires emerging professionals.” Award objectives and judging criteria have been drafted, with industry feedback to be incorporated as the program is finalised. Full details will be released once funding commitments are secured. “Following the call for support the best governance and funding model will be established taking into account ideas developed with other potential national and state partners given the broad reach of the award,” Mick Stephens said. “By supporting this award, organisations will be investing in the technical capability our sector needs for the future.” Organisations wishing to contribute are invited to complete an online form to indicate interest. Timber Queensland will contact supporters directly to facilitate contributions. Source & image credit: Timber Queensland  TTM Report: Rise in NZ log imports into China
Despite a significant decrease in the total volume of imported
logs, the volume of logs imported from New Zealand increased by 2% year-on-year, and the proportion rose from 50% to 58% of the
national total log imports in 2025.China’s log imports from New Zealand totalled 18.20 million cubic metres in 2025, up 2% over the same period of 2024. In addition, China’s log imports from Japan, Canada and Latvia rose 4%, 12% and 53% respectively in 2025. In contrast, China’s log imports from the other main suppliers fell sharply in 2025. Log exports from the US saw the largest decline dropping 82% over 2024 levels. The volume of logs imported from the US has significantly decreased since China banned the import of logs from the United States. Instead, China has diversified its sources of log imports and is now increasing the import of logs from other countries, such as New Zealand, Japan, Canada and Latvia. China’s log imports from all these countries grew at different rates. China’s log imports from Latvia rose 53% year on year in 2025. More >> Source: ITTO Table data source: China Customs Unlocking new markets for Tasmania's private growers
Private Forests Tasmania's Market Access project has reached a
milestone, with the organisation now positioned to consider a
series of recommendations to enable greater market opportunities for
private growers. This strategic project and its recommendations are
an important step in identifying options for more efficient pathways for
private landowners to enter forest product markets.Specifically, the purpose of the project was to undertake a study to identify and assess the feasibility of effective mechanisms to connect private forest landowners with established domestic timber markets in Tasmania. The intended outcome of the project was for Private Forests Tasmania to have some potential pathway recommendations for consideration. Project process and key findings Private Forests Tasmania’s Market Access project first commenced in 2025, when an independent tender was launched to engage a consultant to undertake the work. Margules Groome was identified as the successful consultant and they started the project in July with an introductory webinar. Following the webinar, Margules Groome undertook a series of workshops with stakeholders across Tasmania and completed an extensive desktop review of different proven market access models and case studies from around the world and domestically. The stakeholder engagement component of this project yielded a consensus on some themes around private growers accessing markets, including key barriers of fragmentation and opacity, lack of market and price transparency and complexities in certification and carbon trading. More positively, stakeholders also identified that education, extension services and ability to achieve scale and bargaining power through aggregation and cooperation were possible areas which could potentially support improvements in market access for private growers. The work was concluded with a stakeholder webinar in late January 2026, where Margules Groome outlined a series of recommendations to Private Forests Tasmania for consideration. These recommendations covered short-, medium- and long-term timeframes and included suggestions for enhancement of existing Private Forests Tasmania resources and tools in addition to options to develop digital platforms, wood flow models and considering the establishment of a grower co-operative. More >> Source & image credit: Private Forests Tasmania  Expansion of RPBC
The heartbeat of genetic gain within Australasia’s forestry – Radiata Pine Breeding Company Limited (RPBC) – has invested in more land to future-proof its work.RPBC is New Zealand’s sole radiata pine breeding company. It forms an integral part of the forestry supply chain, benefiting growers, seed producers, and processors across 16 shareholders that collectively own and manage 1.6 million hectares in New Zealand, and east and south-eastern Australia. The company's primary function is to select and breed top-performing trees to produce better, faster-growing, and more resilient germplasm*. In addition to breeding elite trees the RPBC also invests in collaborative research in emerging areas like drought tolerance – freely sharing its work and knowledge for the benefit of the Australasian forestry sector. Since forming in 2002, RPBC has routinely achieved vital industry breakthroughs, including recently investing several million dollars in partnership with shareholders and the Bioeconomy Science Institute (Scion) to develop the first Pinus Radiata SNP chip [single Nucleotide Polymorphism chip] for genotyping. It has the potential to dramatically improve radiata pine plant breeding outcomes – allowing parental verification and enabling early selection and screening for desirable traits. Tree breeding and archiving to cover 23ha Until this year, RPBC completed its tree breeding and archiving work on six hectares – minutes from Amberley in North Canterbury. RPBC recently bought an additional 23 hectares of bare, flat land just 800m from its current orchard. This allows RPBC to increase its current number of 9000 individual trees (500-600 genotypes) to (over time) 34,000 trees. In due course, the existing six-hectare site will be sold. The key driver for the investment is to increase the deployment of genetic gain from the breeding programme into the production forest. RPBC’s Tree Improvement Manager Mark Paget said it was time for RPBC to take the next step. He said the land is ideal for radiata pine – being on the East Coast – which is recognised as a good flowering site. “It also really de-risks the seed orchard businesses in terms of introducing new material into the deployment forest,” Mark said. “We’re trying to facilitate and to push better genetics and faster deployment for seed producers so they can introduce our new genetic material into seed production orchards at the pace – and, at the quantities they need. “On the male side, producing pollen in commercial quantities to offer seed producers is also vital. We simply couldn’t fulfil that demand before, and we will now be able to do that moving forward.” More >> Source & image credit: RPBC Fifth Natural Capital Report highlights a decade of discovery
Sustainable plantation forestry company Forico has announced the
release of its fifth Natural Capital Report combining FY23-24 and FY24-25. This continues Forico’s work in setting benchmarks
for businesses integrating sustainability and nature reporting into
their financial decision-making, as the world continues to grapple with
climate change and biodiversity loss.The fifth report showcases Forico’s work across both operational and conservation activities, illustrating how the company contributes to the relevant Sustainable Development Goals identified by the United Nations. The report highlights a ‘decade of discovery’ in the ten-year program undertaken with leading Tasmanian ecologists, safeguarding the natural values of the landscape Forico manages and achieving significant outcomes for threatened species, preserving grasslands and ecosystems of international importance. In striving for a balance between its globally certified plantations and maintaining the natural landscape, Forico has positioned itself at the forefront of mandatory sustainability reporting, through early adoption of frameworks such as those from the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). Chair of the Forico Board, Mr Matt Crapp, said that ‘This report is not a compliance exercise; it is a reflection of our values and our unwavering commitment to responsible stewardship of the 172,000 hectares entrusted to us.’ Marking the publication of the report and looking to the future, Forico CEO Evangelista Albertini added that Forico ‘also remains proudly Tasmanian. Our state is a unique part of the world where people can flourish and engage in invigorating and purposeful work and lead a safe, full and satisfying life.’ Forico believes is it well positioned to respond to the emergence of nature and biodiversity markets continuing its vantage position in the industry now widely accepted to be critical in the fight against climate change. Source & image credit: Forico  Laws of cricket changed to allow previously ‘illegal’ bats
The MCC’s Laws of Cricket will be changed to permit bats
made from more than one piece of wood to be used in the recreational
game in a move to combat rising prices and more sustainable
manufacturing processes.While “laminated” or “Type D” bats have previously been allowed in junior cricket, regulations have insisted that bats used in open-age recreational cricket must be made from a single piece of willow. However amid a shortage of English willow and a surge in prices driven by increased demand, the MCC has moved to change its laws from 1 October 2026 to allow bats made from up to three wooden pieces to be used in open-age cricket. Bat manufacturers will also be allowed to use woods other than willow behind the face of the bat as part of the law change. More >> Source: Independent UK Jobs
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And one to end the week on... oh for those short weeksFriday 6th of February is Waitangi Day in New Zealand and is a public holiday, so a short week for those lucky ones living way Down Under.
 And on that note, enjoy your weekend. Cheers.  Brand PartnersOur Partners & Sponsors Friday Offcuts is made possible through the generous support of the following companies.
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