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Rubber and Wood March 30, 2015 03:00:19 AM

Sawlog prices dropped in many countries during 2014, says WRQ

Paul Ploumis
ScrapMonster Author
The most recent report published by the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ) indicates that sawlog prices saw major declines in most of the countries during 2014

Sawlog prices dropped in many countries during 2014, says WRQ

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The most recent report published by the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ) indicates that sawlog prices saw major declines in most of the countries during 2014. The biggest price declines occurred in Europe, Latin America and Oceania. The prices in North America remained steady on account of robust domestic lumber demand.

The Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) fell for the third consecutive quarter, plunging to its lowest level in two years. The GSPI dropped to $83.12 per cub.metre during Q4/2014, 2.6% down when compared with the previous quarter and 6.3% lower in comparison with the same quarter a year before. Currently, the Index is at the lowest levels in two years.

The weakening Euro led to sharp fall in sawlog prices in USD terms in the Northern and Central Europe. The rapid fall in domestic currency resulted in significant drop in sawlog prices in Russia and Brazil. On the other hand, the prices remained steady in North America on account of robust domestic lumber demand and increased export volumes from the US and Canada. Meantime, US West Coast, British Colombia and New Zealand reported higher sawlog prices as compared with the ten-year average prices. The 4Q/2014 prices of Douglas-fir and hemlock sawlogs were almost 25% higher than their ten-year averages.

According to WRQ, domestic sawlog costs were 21% higher in New Zealand during 4Q/2014 than their ten-year average. The other regions to report higher prices than the ten-year average were Western Canada (+19%), Latvia (+14%) and Estonia (+12%). The regions that reported lower sawlog prices in comparison with the ten-year averages were Sweden (-4%), Finland (-6%), Eastern Canada (-8%), Brazil (-17%) and North Western Russia (-31%).

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