January and February saw increases in log prices both from export logs and domestic logs (pruned and structural). There are strong indications that export prices will lift again in March. The A-grade price is currently over 100/JAS m³ at main NZ ports and is forecast lift by 10% in March.
READ MORERecent staff developments have resulted in one secondment to Malaysia and three new appointments:
READ MOREWelcome to Wood Matters last issue for the year.
READ MOREAs forecast by many commentators in advance of the COP15 Copenhagen Climate Change conference, there is no new international binding agreement to replace or extend the Kyoto Protocol yet. Work on that will continue during 2010 leading up to COP16 in Mexico in November.
READ MOREMAF held an informative workshop for PF Olsen to assist us with understanding the Emissions Trading Scheme for forestry. One part of the workshop was "How to define forest land".
READ MOREOn November 20th, the Silver Lake set sail from Port Chalmers with a load of PF Olsen client logs destined for China.
READ MOREIt's hard to ignore the stark contrast between the log market now and this time last year. Domestically, last December we were facing the unknown, but daunting, repercussions of a major global financial crisis.
READ MOREFollowing the resignation of John Rogan in November, Mike Hodgson is due to take over the role of Regional Manager, Southern North Island in January 2010.
READ MOREWe have discovered some confusion about what is post-1989 forest. You must look at when the land was originally planted, not when the current tree crop was planted.
READ MOREThe following are some important points regarding pre-1990 deforestation exemptions.
READ MOREMAF, in their latest Sustainable Forestry Bulletin, updates key changes in the legislation relating to the recently passed Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading Scheme) Amendment Act.
READ MOREIn response to two key questions from PF Olsen, MAF provided the following answers (slightly modified by PF Olsen).
READ MORESome solid detective work by Hew McKellar, President of the Western Farm Co-operative Forestry Company Ltd and Hunterville-based farm forester, has revealed an important opportunity for some forest owners to spread their harvesting revenue over five years.
READ MOREWe know that concrete, steel, aluminium and synthetic composites all compete with wood and fight for market share. Well, we have come across a breakthrough innovation in applications for wood. Might need a little refining to get a lot of uptake (good for mother-in-laws perhaps?)
READ MOREDuring the month, Peter Clark, PF Olsen's CEO presented the Key Note address at the ForestTECH 2009 technology showcase in Rotorua in early November.
READ MORESome Observations and Management Implications
READ MORELittle change to report this month. Export log prices firmed slightly this month based on a rise in China-side log prices.
READ MOREUnder the heading MAF Updates PF Olsen on the Emissions Trading Scheme in Issue 14 of Wood Matters we have found an error.
READ MOREAlthough still subject to Select Committee review and final legislation, the Maori Party support for National's ETS amendments has provided a clear incentive for the planting of new forests. Our calculations suggest a strong domestic demand for forestry credits after 2012, which cannot be met from existing post-1989 forests, even in the unlikely event that all post-1989 forest owners did enter the scheme. But who will plant new forests?
READ MOREAt present, a laden heavy vehicle that does not have a special permit must not weigh more than 44 tonnes nor exceed 20 metres in length. Under proposed new rules the maximum weights of laden vehicles with special permits will be increased on suitable highways and district roads linking forests, mills, processing plants, ports, railheads and customers.
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