[Index]
Recovery of forest products
markets in the UNECE region in 2002:
Consumption forecast to climb in 2003 and
2004
Geneva, 20 January 2004 - The United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
just released the final version of the UNECE/FAO
Forest Products Annual Market Analysis,
2002-2004. It covers forest products
market and policy developments in the UNECE
region of Europe, North America and the CIS
countries. Its main findings are:
-
Forest law enforcement, governance and trade policies
are being developed as countries build partnerships to control illegal
logging and the trade of forest products sourced from illegal harvesting.
-
UNECE region forest products markets turned upwards
in 2002, overcoming the dip in 2001, achieving some record levels.
-
Region wide for all products, the UNECE Timber Committee
forecasts growing consumption in 2003 and 2004.
-
Certified forest area worldwide extended to over 150
million hectares by mid-2003, 90% of which are in the UNECE region, however,
not all potentially labeled certified forest products reach final consumers.
-
Total roundwood consumption for the UNECE region was
1.3 billion m3 in 2002, and forecast slightly up in 2003 and 2004, staying
well within sustainable harvest limits.
-
Structural oversupply has arisen for some products
and subregions, and with strong global competition, this has increased
pressure on the economic viability of forest management in some countries.
-
Forest products markets remained weak in western Europe,
with the exception of sawn softwood, which bounced back from a drop in
2001 to reach record production and exports levels.
-
Strong housing construction in the United States drove
demand for sawn softwood and structural panels, with an increasing amount
being imported.
-
Increased market share of imported forest products
led the United States to continue quotas and tariffs on Canadian sawnwood
imports in 2002 through mid-2003.
-
Markets in Other Europe exhibited strong, continuing
recovery in 2002, and for some products, pre-transition levels were attained.
-
Consumption of wood energy in the EU/EFTA rose to
a record level in 2002, leading panel and pulp manufacturers to express
concern about competition for their raw material.
-
CIS exports of roundwood and sawnwood expanded to record
levels, but domestic consumption remained soft.
-
Sawn softwood consumption, production and trade rose
to record levels in the UNECE region in 2002, but sawn hardwood demand
peaked in 1999 and has since been falling.
*****
The Annual Market Analysis begins with an overview of forest products
markets and policies, followed by a chapter on the policy implications of
forest products market developments. These are followed by analyses of the
economic factors affecting the forest and forest industries sector. Statistics-based
chapters are included for markets of sawn softwood, sawn hardwood, wood-based
panels, paper, paperboard and woodpulp, wood raw materials and tropical timber.
Other chapters highlight the rapid developments in forest products certification,
as well as value-added wood products, e.g. furniture.
The Annual Market Analysis incorporates for the
first time, countries' market forecasts, expert presentations and outcomes
of the annual Timber Committee Market Discussions. The discussions were held
in October 2003 in Geneva and had the theme: The market effects of wood energy
policies.
Copies of the Annual Market Analysis may be obtained
from the web site homepage or postal address below. For further information
please contact:
Mr. Ed Pepke
Forest Products Marketing Specialist
UNECE/FAO Timber Branch
Trade Development and Timber Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 2872
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 0041
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.unece.org/trade/timber
Ref: ECE/TIM/04/P01