[Index]
UNECE region forest products markets
respond positively to globalization:
Forest products markets and policies
in 2004 and 2005
Geneva, 2 August
2005 - The United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
just released the UNECE/FAO Forest
Products Annual Market Review, 2004-2005.
It covers forest products market and
policy developments in the UNECE region
of Europe, North America and the CIS
countries. Depending on the product,
the region’s share of global production
of primary forest products ranges from
73% to 82% and the share of world exports
ranges from 75% to 90% (see graphs).
Its main findings are:
-
Strong economic
conditions, combined with effective
industry and government promotion
policies, drove forest products markets
to record levels in 2004 for the UNECE
region as a whole. As an indication
of demand, consumption of primary
forest products rose by 4% and by
over 50 million cubic metres (m3),
to reach 1.3 billion m3 in 2004 for
the region.
-
China’s
imports of unprocessed and semi-processed
wood from the UNECE region, and its
exports of value-added production
back to the region, have mixed effects,
depending on how successfully companies
have adapted to globalization.
-
Illegal logging
is less than 1% of legal fellings
for most countries in the UNECE region;
however it is greater for a few countries,
with substantial environmental, social
and economic costs to governments,
and with negative ramifications throughout
the sector.
-
For the first
time as consumption expanded, driven
by over 2 million housing starts,
North America became a net importer
of sawn softwood in 2004 when its
sawnwood imports expanded by over
15%, and at 42 million m3, exceeded
European imports.
-
The important
forest sector policy issues of 2004
in Russia included the Kyoto Protocol
ratification, debates about private
ownership of forests, use of satellites
for preventing illegal logging and
legal disputes over ownership and
management of some wood and paper
companies.
-
Secondary processed
wood product exports by tropical countries
exceeded the value of primary wood
product trade in 2004 for the first
time, reflecting successful policies
to promote value-added production.
-
In both North
America and Europe, trade associations
have joined forces to promote value-added
processing, and to promote the forest
and forest industries sector in general.
-
Concerns that
wood products are legally and sustainably
produced, drove governments, industry
and retailers to implement purchasing
policies requiring certified forest
products, thereby influencing all
market sectors.
-
With over 240
million hectares of certified forestland,
an increase of one third in the last
year, the supply of certified forest
products is increasing in all market
sectors, from roundwood to value-added
wood products.
-
Sawn hardwood
consumption is falling within the
UNECE region, down by 3% in 2004 from
2003, largely due to downsizing of
the US furniture industry in response
to imports from Asia; however, hardwood
exports to Asia increased.
-
Wood-based panels
markets were driven by construction,
flooring and furnishing to records
across the UNECE region. For example,
production increased in Europe by
6% to reach 64 million m3, in North
America by 3% to reach 61 million
m3, and in the CIS by 12% to reach
9 million m3. Trade of panels was
active, and imports of panels from
outside the region increased –
in come cases they were met with trade
restrictions.
-
Paper and pulp
markets moved up strongly in the UNECE
region, to record levels in Europe,
e.g. paper and paperboard production
increased by 4% to reach 103 million
metric tons, in line with economic
growth and due to export demand.
UNECE
region’s share of world production
of primary forest products, 2004
|
UNECE
region’s share of world primary
forest products exports, 2004 |
|
|
Notes: UNECE region in
2004, world in 2003 (most current
statistics).
Sources:
UNECE/FAO TIMBER database, FAO statistics,
2005. |
Notes: UNECE region in
2004, world in 2003 (most current
statistics).
Sources:
UNECE/FAO TIMBER database, FAO statistics,
2005. |
The Forest Products
Annual Market Review begins with
an overview of forest products markets
and policies, followed by a chapter focusing
on policy issues related to forest products
markets. 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.
Copies of the Review
may be obtained from the website homepage
of the UNECE Timber Committee and the
FAO European Forestry Commission, or from
the 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, Room 448
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 2872
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 0041
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unece.org/trade/timber
Ref: ECE/TIM/05/P05
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