{"id":88367,"date":"2024-12-06T07:17:54","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T07:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tin.happy-projects.ro\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/"},"modified":"2025-09-19T09:03:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T09:03:17","slug":"trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/","title":{"rendered":"Trade tensions and new regulations shape the future of hardwood markets"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/span>The 2024 International Hardwood Conference (IHC) brought together industry experts, market analysts, and trade representatives to discuss the evolving landscape of the global hardwood sector. Against a backdrop of economic uncertainties, environmental challenges, and shifting trade policies, the conference shed light on the sector's resilience and its potential for innovation.<\/p>\n

Participants explored the twin forces shaping the market: such as geopolitical tensions, climate change, and rising production costs, alongside opportunities driven by emerging technologies and the growing demand for sustainable materials.<\/p>\n

Global economic and the hardwood market<\/strong><\/p>\n

The event opened with an analysis of the international economic picture and its implications for the timber trade from Christoph Schneider, Managing Director of Vienna-based independent economic research institute Economica.<\/p>\n

He said global political and economic uncertainty remaining at a high level continues to undermine market confidence. The combination of armed conflicts, international trade disputes, and rising debt levels are resulting in upward pressure on costs and prices while eroding purchasing power. The rise in international and domestic violent conflicts was a significant adverse factor on trade and commerce, with the number of conflicts increasing 15% from June 2023 to June 2024 and 1 in 7 of the global population now being affected.<\/p>\n

Mr. Schneider underlined the impact of the Suez Canal crisis in particular, which has resulted in an 80% fall in its shipping flow, pushing up freight costs and transit times, notably from Asia to Europe.<\/p>\n

Despite adverse international economic factors, however, Mr. Schneider said the overall global economy was proving resilient. There was no major impetus for an upturn in 2025, but no indicators for contraction. Global GDP growth is expected to be level with 2024 at 3.2%.<\/p>\n

While there may be short-term fluctuations, global timber prices were also predicted to be broadly stable in coming years, albeit with downside risks, including conflict escalation and uncertainty over tariffs and trade policy. In terms of the leading players in the international hardwood market, said Mr. Schneider, the US remains the biggest global trader by some way, with 2022 exports of US $3.3 billion. Thailand ranked second, with exports of around US$1 billion, Malaysia third at US$819 million, Cameroon fifth at US$739 million, and Papua New Guinea ninth at US $606 million.<\/p>\n

Other tropical suppliers in the top 20 global hardwood exporters were Brazil, ranked eleventh, Gabon thirteenth, Congo fourteenth, Solomon Islands seventeenth, and Lao PDR twentieth.<\/p>\n

Looking to the longer term, Mr. Schneider said the prospects for the timber market should be positive. Global population continues to rise, resulting in the emergence of potential new markets and \u201cpeople will always need wood,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

European hardwood sector overview<\/strong><\/p>\n

A broad summary of prospects in the European hardwood sector was addressed by EOS vice president for hardwoods Maria Kiefer-Polz and ETTF President Ad Wesselink. The last two years have been challenging for the industry given high interest rates and inflationary pressures, they said, and it was still unclear whether the market had \u2018bottomed out\u2019 and 2025 would see some recovery. Key factors continuing to affect business were inevitably the rising costs of energy, labor, and technology.<\/p>\n

EU deforestation regulation and its impact on the industry<\/strong><\/p>\n

A particular focus for the European industry and its suppliers is the EU Deforestation Regulation. At the IHC, Franz-Xaver Kraft of German trade federation GD Holz looked at its implications, and it was discussed by a panel comprising EOS Secretary General Silvia Melegari, International Tropical Timber Technical Association Managing Director Beno\u00eet Jobb\u00e9-Duval, Mike Snow Executive Director of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), Hubert Inhaizer of PEFC International, and Xenia Marx of FSC International.<\/p>\n

Mr. Kraft detailed the obligations imposed by the EUDR on various timber trade players. Greatest demands, he said, would be on importers and EU forest owners first placing timber and wood products on the EU market.<\/p>\n

They will be obliged to undertake due diligence to mitigate the risk of timber being implicated in deforestation and forest degradation. SME traders and processors under the EUDR must keep information on suppliers and customers for five years, including due diligence statement reference numbers, and pass relevant information from suppliers to customers.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, non-SME traders and processors of wood already placed on the EU market must collate information on suppliers and customers, including that suppliers are applying their due diligence systems correctly and taking appropriate risk mitigation measures. Non-SME exporters will also need to apply due diligence to their products and provide a due diligence statement.<\/p>\n

Mr. Kraft concluded that the EUDR would add a layer of administration on the timber sector and, he said, industry bodies continue to press the EU for further simplification of the rules and clear guidance.<\/p>\n

Prospects and insights into the tropical hardwood sector<\/strong><\/p>\n

An appraisal of developments in the tropical hardwood sector was given by Jean-Christophe Claudon, Statistical Assistant at the International Tropical Timber Organisation.<\/p>\n

He described how the industry has developed in the last 30 years. Production of industrial tropical roundwood over that time has been stable at between 150\u2013160 million cu.m. But, significantly, production from plantations has trebled, to give total tropical roundwood output of around 350 million cu.m. In Latin America in 2021, plantations accounted for 81% of production, 66% in Southeast Asia, and 30% in Africa.<\/p>\n

Changing trends in the US and Chinese hardwood markets<\/strong><\/p>\n

Against the backdrop of a wider economic slowdown and a struggling real estate sector, Chinese imports of hardwood lumber from Europe and the US were down in 2023, speaker James Xu told IHC delegates.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s beech log imports from Europe were 501,859 cu.m against 643,520 cu.m in 2022. European beech lumber imports were down to 476,760 cu.m from 577,645 cu.m, oak logs to 491,824 from 929,174 cu.m, and oak lumber to 5,902 cu.m from 18,716 cu.m.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 2024 International Hardwood Conference (IHC) brought together industry experts, market analysts, and trade representatives to discuss the evolving landscape of the global hardwood sector. Against a backdrop of economic uncertainties, environmental challenges, and shifting trade policies, the conference shed … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":96469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4716],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-trends"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTrade tensions and new regulations shape the future of hardwood markets - Timber Industry News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"ro_RO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trade tensions and new regulations shape the future of hardwood markets - Timber Industry News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The 2024 International Hardwood Conference (IHC) brought together industry experts, market analysts, and trade representatives to discuss the evolving landscape of the global hardwood sector. Against a backdrop of economic uncertainties, environmental challenges, and shifting trade policies, the conference shed … Continue reading →\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Timber Industry News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-12-06T07:17:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-19T09:03:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ihc-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"760\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"508\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"GWMI Admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Scris de\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"GWMI Admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Timp estimat pentru citire\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"GWMI Admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#\/schema\/person\/135a1ae8119d1d1755135add5b7287ff\"},\"headline\":\"Trade tensions and new regulations shape the future of hardwood markets\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-06T07:17:54+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-19T09:03:17+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/\"},\"wordCount\":945,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ihc-1.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Latest Trends\"],\"inLanguage\":\"ro-RO\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/\",\"name\":\"Trade tensions and new regulations shape the future of hardwood markets - Timber Industry News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ihc-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-06T07:17:54+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-19T09:03:17+00:00\",\"inLanguage\":\"ro-RO\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"ro-RO\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ihc-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ihc-1.jpg\",\"width\":760,\"height\":508},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/\",\"name\":\"Timber Industry News\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"ro-RO\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Timber Industry News\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"ro-RO\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/logo_color.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/logo_color.svg\",\"width\":150,\"height\":57,\"caption\":\"Timber Industry News\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#\/schema\/person\/135a1ae8119d1d1755135add5b7287ff\",\"name\":\"GWMI Admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"ro-RO\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7e3f366983e368f37c12ad29c07423641931b311f2561bc3cb4b4eaf6f44c3cb?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7e3f366983e368f37c12ad29c07423641931b311f2561bc3cb4b4eaf6f44c3cb?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"GWMI Admin\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Trade tensions and new regulations shape the future of hardwood markets - Timber Industry News","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/","og_locale":"ro_RO","og_type":"article","og_title":"Trade tensions and new regulations shape the future of hardwood markets - Timber Industry News","og_description":"The 2024 International Hardwood Conference (IHC) brought together industry experts, market analysts, and trade representatives to discuss the evolving landscape of the global hardwood sector. Against a backdrop of economic uncertainties, environmental challenges, and shifting trade policies, the conference shed … Continue reading →","og_url":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/","og_site_name":"Timber Industry News","article_published_time":"2024-12-06T07:17:54+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-09-19T09:03:17+00:00","og_image":[{"width":760,"height":508,"url":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ihc-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"GWMI Admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Scris de":"GWMI Admin","Timp estimat pentru citire":"5 minute"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/"},"author":{"name":"GWMI Admin","@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#\/schema\/person\/135a1ae8119d1d1755135add5b7287ff"},"headline":"Trade tensions and new regulations shape the future of hardwood markets","datePublished":"2024-12-06T07:17:54+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-19T09:03:17+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/"},"wordCount":945,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ihc-1.jpg","articleSection":["Latest Trends"],"inLanguage":"ro-RO","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/","url":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/","name":"Trade tensions and new regulations shape the future of hardwood markets - Timber Industry News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ihc-1.jpg","datePublished":"2024-12-06T07:17:54+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-19T09:03:17+00:00","inLanguage":"ro-RO","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"ro-RO","@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/trade-tensions-and-new-regulations-shape-the-future-of-hardwood-markets\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ihc-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ihc-1.jpg","width":760,"height":508},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/","name":"\u0218tiri din industria lemnului","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"ro-RO"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#organization","name":"\u0218tiri din industria lemnului","url":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"ro-RO","@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/logo_color.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/logo_color.svg","width":150,"height":57,"caption":"Timber Industry News"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#\/schema\/person\/135a1ae8119d1d1755135add5b7287ff","name":"GWMI Admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"ro-RO","@id":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7e3f366983e368f37c12ad29c07423641931b311f2561bc3cb4b4eaf6f44c3cb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7e3f366983e368f37c12ad29c07423641931b311f2561bc3cb4b4eaf6f44c3cb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"GWMI Admin"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88367"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88367\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/96469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}