Roundwood/Sawnwood

• Decline recorded in Russian softwood log exports
• Some 500,000 m³ of stormwood left in wake of Laura in Sweden
• Czech border now closed for commuters as well
• Decline recorded in Russian softwood log exports
• RMK plans to increase logging to 4m m³ in 2020
• Austria: only a few sawmills have reduced cutting as yet
• Sawmilling industry preparing cuts in production
• Slower decline in beech roundwood exports to China
• French oak cutting activity differs from German sawmills
• Large central European hardwood sawmills start cutting back production now

Wood products

• Sharp growth in demand for standard pallets
• Short supply of timber for wooden crates and pallets
• Slower rate of growth registered in US pellet output
• FertighausWelt centres remain closed until 1 April
• German prefabricated building ratio raised to 20.8 % in 2019
• EPAL pallet production increased 2.4 % in 2019

Wood-based panels

• More and more stoppages in the European wood-based panel industry as well
• Wood and furniture firms see share prices tumble
• Machine and plant engineering firms experiencing a slump
• US wood industry listed as ‘essential infrastructure’
• Italy’s furniture industry and its suppliers have shut up shop
• Prices for film-faced birch plywood in small formats increased by 15-20 % since January
• Finnish plywood production slumped in late 2019
• More than two-thirds of quota already used up

Surfaces

• Decor paper manufacturers tending to enjoy growth in order intake over past few weeks
• Kraft paper supply chain still running after all
• Decorative Surfaces Conference now in mid-October

Furniture

• More and more European cabinet and kitchen furniture producers suspending operations

Construction

• Housing construction: incoming orders rise by 6.7%
• Housing starts decline again in February

Pulp/Paper

• Brazil manufactured 6.6% less pulp last year
• No movement in BEK pulp prices in February either

Companies

• Hornbach exceeds forecasts for business year 2019/20
• TABS Holland paying no dividend for 2019
• Interfor reducing output and investment expenditure
• West Fraser planning to reduce output by up to 25 %
• Klausner Lumber finds itself facing class action
• Steico withdraws forecast for 2020 due to corona crisis
• E2E completes takeover of Tecverde Engenharia
• Homann Holzwerkstoffe files for short-time working
• Homann Holzwerkstoffe files for short-time working
• Kotkamills manufacturing at Tainionkoski Mill again
• Ultra Dekor RUS plans to start making decor paper in 2022
• Schoeller has started with delivery from kraft papers
• Uniboard and Tafisa Canada have idled manufacturing