Every day TIMBERWeb publishes the latest news reports from the timber and forest products industry globally. We also publish a series of market reports authored by respected organisations. To access these articles email news@timberweb.com. Here is one example:
Japanese imports of tropical hardwood lumber and processed hardwood products manufactured in China during 2000 rose by 23.3% compared to 1999.
The total import of tropical hardwood solid wood products in 2000 was 973,401 cubic meters, 5.6% up from 1999, out of which lumber accounted for 627,000 cubic meters, only 1.7% up. Imports of processed products were 347,000 cubic meters, 13.5% up.
By source, Malaysia accounted for more than a half of the supply but imports from China and the Philippines grew by 20% over 1999.
Plywood (including blockboard) imports by Japan during January amounted to 439,000 cubic metres including block board, 3.1% down from December but some 4.7% up from January a year ago. Monthly imports of over 400,000 cubic metres have continued since last October as importers attempted to buy in anticipation of a weakening yen.
Indonesia was the top supplier at 238,000 cubic metres, 3.7% less than December, then came Malaysia with 168,000 cubic metres, down 3.6%. Imports from Canada remain low at around 13,000 cubic metres, down 4.9% on December.
The rapid rebound of Euro against yen, which is expected to peak in April, is driving up prices for European products. The concern now is by how much European suppliers will be able to reduce prices to accommodate the change in currency rates. So far good quality whitewood laminated beam prices are down by 20 Euro to about 500 Euro per cubic metre C & F, but so far the trade is not reporting any change in prices of lumber products.
The plywood market remains dull despite the bullish price push from softwood plywood producers in response to continuous increases in Russian larch log prices.
The market accepted the up thrust of prices for a while but with a lack actual demand dealers are failing to hold onto the higher price levels. Recently some dealers have been slashing prices to clear stocks before closing their books at the end of March.
ITTO are TIMBERWeb Media Partners
Canada: Truce called in fight over rainforest
Loggers, environmentalists and Indians agreed on Wednesday to limit logging in Canada's Pacific coast rainforests, which have become "ground zero" in a battle over wildlife protection.
Sappi appoints CEO
South African pulp and paper group Sappi has appointed a new London-based chief executive of its fine paper arm, the company said on Wednesday.
Carter Holt branches out, but stock chopped
New Zealand's largest forest products company, Carter Holt Harvey Ltd, is winning plaudits for its strategic direction but its stock continues to be dogged by earnings downgrades, industry overcapacity and a global downturn.
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Ellis Lumber Co Inc
From sawmills in the Northeastern USA, Ellis Lumber has continually produced some of the finest Appalachian grown hardwoods for more than 25 years. Their top quality hardwoods are exported to over 35 countries, with their largest markets including Europe, Asia, the Pacific Rim, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Cherry logs from western Pennsylvania are particularly popular with western European customers, with all lumber kiln dried by computer-controlled procedures to eliminate surface check and honeycombing. All lumber is regraded after kilning.
Sawn primarily in Eastern Europe, Ellis sells very large quantities of European Beech to all world markets. The company owns a dry kiln facility in Italy and sawmills in some of the former Yugoslavian republics.
The company has recently opened an office in China to handle the sale of US and European, African and South American hardwoods, and also to source value-added wooden products for the US market.
The company has diversified with the establishment of a division to import these value-added products to the USA. Among them are pine, finger-jointed edge glued panels, mouldings and door jams from Eastern Europe, as well as hardwood T&G flooring from Europe, Asia and South America.
President Seymour Ellis said: "The fine quality of our European Beech is unparalleled. Once customers see the care taken with each bundle, they quickly realise that this is stock they have been seeking."
The Company also markets hardwood species from Ghana to Brazil, as furniture manufacturers seek new species to retain a competitive edge.
Ellis Lumber is a Full Member of TIMBERWeb.
Just for a Laugh
You'll love this one . . . . ?
A timber contractor had been persuaded to take a lad from the local school on work experience.
He met the lad on the first day and grumbled to him at every opportunity about how hard it was to make forestry work pay.
On their second day together, he picked him up and stopped off for fuel for his van.
"Fill it with diesel for us lad, I'm just going to pop in the shop for a newspaper," said the contractor.
The lad, pleased to have a small measure of responsibility, did as he was told.
When the contractor returned the lad proudly greeted him with, "You grumbled yesterday about how you can't make any money so I filled it up with petrol, it was cheaper!"
Okay, so that wasn't exactly hilarious, but how about this . . . .
A woman walked up to a little old man rocking in a chair on his porch.
"I couldn't help noticing how happy you look," she said. "What is your secret for a long happy life?"
"I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day," he said. "I also drink a case of whisky a week, eat fatty foods, and never exercise.
"That's amazing," the woman said. "How old are you?"
"Twenty- six," he said.
Send us your jokes (no rude ones please). All jokes published will receive a prize.
Email them today to: news@timberweb.com
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