SCA Timber and Persson Invest to form a joint sawn-products company, Gallo AB

SCA and the Persson Invest Group, based in the County of Jämtland, Sweden, plan to form a joint sawn-products company, Gallo AB. The company will consist of Persson Invest’s two sawmills Gällö and Tjärnvik, and SCA’s Jämtlamell sawmill in Stugun. Persson Invest and SCA will own equal stakes in Gallo AB, company said in a press release.

Experts: Scotland's forestry industry faces an unprecedented crisis

Scotland's forestry industry faces an unprecedented crisis unless the timber supply chain can be restored quickly, experts have warned, as The Scotsman reported.

Estonia exported EEK 630 million ($60 million) worth of wood and related products during August 2009

Estonia exported EEK 630 million ($60 million) worth of wood and related products during August 2009, official figures show, as KMS Baltics reported.

Plum Creek Timber reported 3Q net income of $19 million

Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. announced 3Q earnings of $19 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, on revenues of $294 million. Results for the quarter include a $2 million after-tax ($4 million pre-tax) pension settlement charge resulting from personnel reductions in 2009, primarily within the company’s manufacturing operations. The expense, net of tax, reduced earnings by $0.02 per share. Earnings for the 3Q 2008 were $69 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, on revenues of $414 million.

Canadian lumber production declines

Canadian lumber production in July totaled 1.5 billion board feet, a 1% decrease from June and a 24% decrease from July 2008, according to Statistics Canada. Production through seven months reached 10.7 billion board feet, 26% behind last year's pace, as Random Lengths reported.

Thin kerf gives parquet a boost in the Congo

Simba Parquet sprl in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has boosted parquet manufacturing since it switched to sawing its own timber rather than buying it in ready sawn.

Russia to drop planned tariff hike on log exports to Finland, Putin tells Finnish Prime Minister in Helsinki

Russia will drop its planned hike in timber export tariffs to Finland, the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen on Wednesday, as reported by Norwegian BarentsObserver newspaper.

Japanese log imports fell 34% in 2008 – US replaces Russia as the leading supplier to Japan

Importation of logs to Japan has declined for four consecutive years and was in 2008, 34 percent lower than the previous year and 50 percent lower than in 2004, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly.

Canfor to take one-week curtailments at six sawmills in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada

Canfor Corporation announced that due to the continued poor softwood lumber markets, it will be taking one week curtailments at 6 sawmills in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada.

Craft-Art Founder Announces Retirement

Craft-Art Company, the national leader in custom, high-end, solid wood countertops, announced today the retirement of company founder Ken Williamson. Craft-Art, a multi-million dollar enterprise, began in the basement of Williamson-s Atlanta home just over 10 years ago.

American Hardwood Export Council: China`s hardwood market to remain weak in 2009

The hardwood market in China may remain weak this year due to the global financial crisis, which negatively impacted furniture demand, according to the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), which represents over 100 U.S. hardwood exporters, as China Knowledge informed Lesprom Network.

Chinese Shangdong Longsheng Import jointly with Honest Timber to buy French Plysorol

Chinese Shangdong Longsheng Import jointly with wood and packing company Honest Timber will acquire struggling French plywood maker Plysorol for an undisclosed sum, as ADP News informed Lesprom Network.

RISI Opens Office in Helsinki, Finland

RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry, today announced the opening of a new office in Helsinki, Finland. The office will serve as an information base for RISI-s Nordic clients as well as complement RISI-s suite of global forest industry information products.

ISP Introduces SunCare(R) Lignin Protection Products for Wood Coatings

At this year-s European Coatings Show (ECS), ISP introduced a new line of coatings ingredients designed to protect wood from degradation and yellowing caused by UV radiation.

SCA officially opened new window components plant in Pitea, Sweden

Norrbotten County Governor Per-Ola Eriksson and SCA CEO Jan Johansson inaugurated SCA’s new window components plant at the Munksund Sawmill in Piteå, Sweden. The investment of nearly SEK 100 million ($12.5 million) creates 24 new jobs, as the company informed Lesprom Network.

The Juken Nissho plywood mill in Kaitaia, New Zealand cuts costs

The Juken Nissho plywood mill in Kaitaia, Northland, New Zealand, is cutting costs and hours worked by contractors, as Radio New Zealand informed Lesprom Network.

Forest2Market announces outlook for U.S. South saw timber market in 2009

An additional 15 sawmills will close across the U.S. South in 2009, removing 750 million board feet of lumber production from the market. This reduction represents a 7% decline over 2008, as Forest2Market informed Lesprom Network.

Forestry Commission bright sparks support Ignition `09

The UK's first exhibition dedicated to wood energy takes place later this month in the North East of England.

PEFC calls on global forest leaders to engage in forest certification

With the establishment of a Stakeholder Forum, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC) has expanded the role of forest leaders within its governance structure and calls on all interested parties to become actively engaged in shaping the future of forest certification.

EU-funded Project gave practical advice to Ukrainian Woodworking & Furniture SMEs in Lviv how to Prepare for Exporting to EU...

One of the main objectives of the EU-funded Project “Support to the Development of Business Capacity of Ukrainian SMEs – International Dimension” is to help companies to establish business links with EU companies.