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\"After the heat wave, there is a threat of frost,\" is how DI Markus Schm\u00f6lzer, chairman of the Austrian sawmill industry, describes the current situation in his industry on the occasion of International Wood Day on September 15, 2023 in P\u00f6rtschach.\u00a0The great demand in recent years has been followed by a significant decline.\u00a0\u201cThis year we are experiencing a massive decline in construction activity and a lack of orders from the construction industry.\u00a0Therefore, the Austrian sawmill industry will produce significantly less in 2023 than in previous years, possibly up to 20 percent.<\/span>\u201d The timber trade paints a similar picture.\u00a0Ing. Franz M\u00fchlbauer, chairman of the Austrian timber trade: \u201cThe lack of orders from the construction industry and private households is having a negative impact on trade.\u00a0Internationally, the situation is also less dynamic than in previous years.\u00a0Exports of softwood lumber, which is the basis for many construction applications, are 13 percent below the level of the previous year.\u00a0Less orders are being ordered, particularly from our largest markets, Italy and Germany.\u201d<\/p>\n In view of the weakness of the construction sector, the sawmill industry and the timber trade are calling for active political measures.\u00a0\u201cThe construction industry is important for the overall economy and for a lot of jobs.\u00a0In addition, the need for living space remains high.\u00a0It's also about a social issue,\" emphasizes Markus Schm\u00f6lzer and adds: \"We propose countering the energy, climate and economic crisis with investments in energy-efficient and affordable housing, namely new construction, renovation and densification.\" The annual renovation rate in Austria is stagnating at 1.5 percent and the political goal of 3 percent has not been achieved for years.\u00a0Around 70 percent of the residential buildings were built before 1990, most in the 1970s.\u00a0\u201cWe are therefore advocating for a renovation turbo with a variety of instruments such as adapted funding, easier access to building financing and understandable advice for homeowners.\u00a0Wood as a climate-friendly building material can make an important contribution.\u00a0Building with wood also helps against soil sealing, because wood is light and can therefore be added to existing buildings,\u201d emphasizes Schm\u00f6lzer.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most cost-effective economic stimulus program for the entire economy is the reduction and avoidance of bureaucracy,\u201d says Franz M\u00fchlbauer and continues: \u201cEspecially in the current economic situation, entrepreneurs have to concentrate on their core business.\u201d M\u00fchlbauer criticizes the policy that came into force a few weeks ago EU Deforestation Regulation \u2013 EUDR for short.\u00a0\u201cWith the new rules from Brussels, a real bureaucratic monster is standing in front of our factory gates and offices.\u00a0If in the future sawn timber from a sawmill in Carinthia, made from wood from Carinthian forests, is delivered to Slovenia or to Carinthian carpentry companies, the dealer will need a due diligence declaration with a lot of information, which he must keep for five years.\" M\u00fchlbauer welcomes the EUDR's goal: \"Of course it is it right,\u00a0to stop the trade in illegal or unsustainable wood.\u00a0But you can't get rid of criminals by placing all honest market participants under general suspicion.\u00a0If President von der Leyen promises a 25 percent reduction in bureaucracy, as she did in April, then she is very close to achieving her goal if the EUDR is stopped straight away.\" Wood imports from outside the EU are already strictly controlled in accordance with the EU Timber Trade Regulation (EUTR). controlled.\u00a0For the time being, M\u00fchlbauer is pushing for the EUDR to be implemented pragmatically: \u201cThe EUDR cannot currently be implemented within the required deadlines because many technical questions still have no answers.\u00a0So we need clarity and longer deadlines for trade within the EU in order to be able to behave in accordance with the law.\u201d\u00a0by placing all honest market participants under general suspicion.\u00a0If President von der Leyen promises a 25 percent reduction in bureaucracy, as she did in April, then she is very close to achieving her goal if the EUDR is stopped straight away.\" Wood imports from outside the EU are already strictly controlled in accordance with the EU Timber Trade Regulation (EUTR). controlled.\u00a0For the time being, M\u00fchlbauer is pushing for the EUDR to be implemented pragmatically: \u201cThe EUDR cannot currently be implemented within the required deadlines because many technical questions still have no answers.\u00a0So we need clarity and longer deadlines for trade within the EU in order to be able to behave in accordance with the law.\u201d\u00a0by placing all honest market participants under general suspicion.\u00a0If President von der Leyen promises a 25 percent reduction in bureaucracy, as she did in April, then she is very close to achieving her goal if the EUDR is stopped straight away.\" Wood imports from outside the EU are already strictly controlled in accordance with the EU Timber Trade Regulation (EUTR). controlled.\u00a0For the time being, M\u00fchlbauer is pushing for the EUDR to be implemented pragmatically: \u201cThe EUDR cannot currently be implemented within the required deadlines because many technical questions still have no answers.\u00a0So we need clarity and longer deadlines for trade within the EU in order to be able to behave in accordance with the law.\u201d\u00a0then it will come very close to its goal if the EUDR is stopped immediately.\u201d Wood imports from outside the EU are already strictly controlled in accordance with the EU Timber Trade Regulation (EUTR).\u00a0For the time being, M\u00fchlbauer is pushing for the EUDR to be implemented pragmatically: \u201cThe EUDR cannot currently be implemented within the required deadlines because many technical questions still have no answers.\u00a0So we need clarity and longer deadlines for trade within the EU in order to be able to behave in accordance with the law.\u201d\u00a0then it will come very close to its goal if the EUDR is stopped immediately.\u201d Wood imports from outside the EU are already strictly controlled in accordance with the EU Timber Trade Regulation (EUTR).\u00a0For the time being, M\u00fchlbauer is pushing for the EUDR to be implemented pragmatically: \u201cThe EUDR cannot currently be implemented within the required deadlines because many technical questions still have no answers.\u00a0So we need clarity and longer deadlines for trade within the EU in order to be able to behave in accordance with the law.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2021, the Economica Institute for Economic Research published a comprehensive study on the value creation effects of the timber industry in Austria.\u00a0As part of a European research project, the data was evaluated according to uniform Europe-wide standards.\u00a0\u201cThe renewed analysis shows that the importance of the timber industry is even greater than initially assumed,\u201d says Mag. Dr.\u00a0Christoph Schneider, Managing Director of the Economica Institute.\u00a0\u201cFrom forestry and industry to trade, crafts and research, Austria has a large, sustainable and regionally rooted value creation network.\u00a0Every 13th euro of added value is generated in the forestry and wood industry, which is up to 28 billion euros.\u00a0There are also around 320.<\/p>\n For Markus Schm\u00f6lzer, this study is cause for optimism.\u00a0\u201cThe wood success story continues to work.\u00a0We use the renewable raw material wood, which is versatile and reusable and also stores carbon and thus protects the climate.\u00a0Now it is up to politicians to take the right measures so that the wood value network is not damaged and Austria as a business location is strengthened in the long term.\u201d<\/p>\n The Austrian sawmill industry consists of more than 1,000 companies.\u00a0A large part of it has been in family hands for generations and shows a wide range of companies: from global market leaders to numerous small and medium-sized companies.\u00a0The sawmill industry in Austria employs around 6,000 people in rural areas and ensures stability and prosperity in the regions.\u00a0The sawmill industry generated a production value of 3.7 billion euros in 2023.<\/p>\n The Federal Committee for the Building Materials, Iron and Wood Trade is the largest trade association in the federal trade division of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce with almost 22,000 member companies.\u00a0The wood trade currently has around 4,800 members.\u00a0The wholesalers and retailers in the wood trade are reliable partners throughout the entire wood value chain.\u00a0With the app-based course \u201cWood-Star\u201d, the wood trade offers an innovative training program for the skilled workers of tomorrow.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “After the heat wave, there is a threat of frost,” is how DI Markus Schm\u00f6lzer, chairman of the Austrian sawmill industry, describes the current situation in his industry on the occasion of International Wood Day on September 15, 2023 in … Continue reading Impulses against the crises<\/h4>\n
Economic importance of the timber industry<\/h4>\n
Facts about the sawmill industry<\/h4>\n
Facts about the timber trade in Austria<\/h4>\n