Austrian sawmilling industry continues to curtail production

Although business activity on the sales markets relevant to the Austrian sawmilling industry had improved slightly by the beginning of May, lumber producers believe the minor increase in demand is not yet sufficient to match the level for the same time last year. The main reason for the hitherto somewhat slower pace of business activity is the sluggish start to the year on the Italian softwood lumber market, the characteristic features of which were noticeable restraint in purchasing by Italian buyers and stagnating, sometimes slightly decaying prices in the first four months. The number of enquiries from Italian softwood-lumber processing companies and timber merchants did not increase again until during the course of April, which was also taken as an opportunity to introduce some initial price increases.