The global forest industry has gone through an unprecedented year caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. These are the key fluctuations and trends within the timber, pulpwood, pulp, lumber and wood biomass sectors:<\/p>\n
Global Timber Markets<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Strong lumber sales and a weakening US dollar moved sawlog prices upward in many markets worldwide in the 3Q\/20. The most significant price increases occurred in Western US, Northern and Eastern Europe, and Oceania.<\/p>\n \u2022 Following a two-year decline, the Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) increased in the 3Q\/20 by 2.9% from the previous quarter.<\/p>\n \u2022 The European Sawlog Price Index (ESPI) fell by 1.4% q-o-q to \u20ac70.15\/m3 in the 3Q\/20. The Index has been in steady decline since 2018, when it reached a five year high.<\/p>\n Global Pulpwood Markets<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 In the 3Q\/20, the Global Hardwood Fiber Price Index (HFPI) was up by 1.6% q-o-q, following a 16-year low in the previous quarter.<\/p>\n \u2022 The Global Softwood Fiber Price Index (SFPI) was up 1.4% q-o-q to $86.92\/odmt in the 3Q\/20. The Index's increase was the first rise in almost two years and was mainly due to the weaker US dollar.<\/p>\n Global Pulp Markets<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Global trade of pulp has gone up this year despite the financial crisis, with Chinese importation reaching an all-time high.<\/p>\n \u2022 Pulp prices started to move upward early in the 4Q\/20 following a year of minimal price adjustments.<\/p>\n Global Lumber Markets<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 US lumber prices reached record highs in the fall, with prices doubling from April to September.<\/p>\n \u2022 Canadian lumber exports declined during the first nine months compared to 2019.<\/p>\n \u2022 High domestic demand for lumber in the US and a trade dispute with China reduced US softwood exports throughout 2019 and 2020.<\/p>\n \u2022 Lumber imports to China have been down 10% this year, with the two largest supplying countries, Russia and Canada, losing market shares.<\/p>\n \u2022 Predominantly European suppliers, including Ukraine, Sweden, Germany, Finland, and Belarus, increased their presence in China in 2020.<\/p>\n \u2022 The largest lumber importer in Europe, the United Kingdom, imported 22% less lumber in the first nine months this year compared to the same timeframe in 2019.<\/p>\n Global Biomass Markets<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Both Canada and the US are on track to reach record high shipments of wood pellets in 2020. Europe is the key destination, with the Netherlands becoming a new important destination as well.<\/p>\n \u2022 Residential pellet prices in Central Europe were down 5-9% from the 4Q\/19 to the 4Q\/20.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The global forest industry has gone through an unprecedented year caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. These are the key fluctuations and trends within the timber, pulpwood, pulp, lumber and wood biomass sectors: Global Timber Markets \u2022 Strong lumber sales and … Continue reading