Excerpts from the 4Q 2013 issue of the Wood Resource Quarterly ( www.woodprices.com )
Sawlog prices trended upward throughout the world in the 4Q and the Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) rose the highest level in over two years.
The two global wood fiber indices, SFPI and HFPI, have trended in opposite directions during most of 2013. The Softwood Wood Fiber Price Index (SFPI) has gone up for two straight quarters to reach US$99.51/odmt in the 4Q/13, while the Hardwood Wood Fiber Price Index (HFPI) fell for the fifth consecutive quarter.
NBSK prices have steadily trended upward for almost 18 months, while HBKP prices have stayed flat.
Lumber production slowed down towards the end of 2013 in both the US and Canada.
The optimism is returning to the sawmilling sector in the Nordic countries.
China’s importation of lumber was 19% higher in 2013 than in 2012
Wooden housing starts in Japan were up 12% in 2013
After two quarters of double-digit growth, wood pellet exports from North America to Europe increased just two percent in the 3Q/13.
The full news update can be found here…
The_Global_Forest_Industry_in_the_4Q-13.pdf
• Global Wood Chip Price Indices Launched by FOEX and WRI
On February 18th, 2014, FOEX in cooperation with Wood Resources International (WRI) launched two wood chip price indices, the Softwood Chip Global (SCG) and Hardwood Chip Global (HCG), both part of the PIX index family of FOEX. The Indices represent prices for wood chips traded globally overseas for the manufacturing of wood pulp and wood-based panels. The latest reported Indices were US$168.63/odmt (+5.18% from the prev. month) for SCG and US$183.13/odmt (-2.15% from the prev. month) for HCG. The Indices will be reported monthly the third Tuesday of the month on the FOEX web site. If you have any questions regarding the new chip price indices, please contact either Tuomo Neuvonen at FOEX ([email protected]) or Hakan Ekstrom at WRI ([email protected]).
If you are interested in participating as data provider to the Indices, subscribing to the index histories (data available from January 2010), or are considering using the Indices commercially, please contact [email protected].
About FOEX
FOEX Indexes Ltd is a private, independent company, which specializes providing audited, trade-mark registered pulp, paper, recovered paper, biomass and wood chip price indices. Financial institutions use the FOEX Indices as a benchmark in setting prices for SWAP-deals and other financial instruments hedging against product price risks.
About Wood Resources International LLC
Wood Resources International LLC, an internationally recognized forest industry-consulting firm established in 1987, publishes two quarterly timber and pulpwood price reports and has subscribers in over 30 countries. The Wood Resource Quarterly, established in 1988, is a 50-page quarterly market report which includes global prices for sawlog, pulpwood, wood chips, lumber and pellets, as well as market commentary about developments in global timber, biomass and forest industry.
Note
The PIX Indices are trademark registered by FOEX Indexes Ltd. Any commercial use of the indices is subject to permission from FOEX and the terms outlined in the License Agreement between the user/-s and FOEX. If you are considering commercial use of PIX-SCG or PIX-HCG, please do not hesitate to contact FOEX for further guidance.
The full article can be found in the attached file…..
Hakan Ekstrom Wood Resources International LLC Seattle, USA
