Page 12 - FDMAsia JulAug 2024

10 MARKET BEATS JUL/AUG 2024 FDM ASIA | www.fdmasia.com

Akos Stiller Balanced relationship between supply and demand
The paper, pulp and board industry sites are very well stocked
with industrial roundwood. The sale of sanding wood is hardly
possible due to a lack of customers. Supply and demand for

pulpwood are currently in balance. The locations continue to
be able to absorb and the quantities provided are continuously
being transported away.
With the exception of Lower and Upper Austria, where
prices have fallen, prices are stable.
Across Austria, prices for spruce/fir pulpwood are between
€63 and €98 per tonne atro. Demand for copper beech
No Progress In Austria's fibrewood is unchanged.

Timber Market High stocks of energy wood

The energy wood market is currently under pressure. It is
According to LK Austria, the development of the Austrian economy hardly possible to market additional quantities outside of long-
is divided. While the services and private consumption sectors term contracts. The reason for this is the lower consumption
are having a slightly supportive effect, the construction industry in the previous heating season and therefore correspondingly
and industrial production remain in recession. Improvements high stock levels as well as an increased supply due to
are not expected until 2025. damaging events.

In some cases, producers are building up additional dry
Stable sawn timber prices storage facilities to relieve the market.
Sales opportunities for softwood sawn timber are subdued,
particularly due to the sharp decline in private house construction. No all-clear for beetle infestation
The construction industry is only supported somewhat by Despite the rainfall, the all-clear cannot be given for bark
large-volume functional construction. beetle infestation due to the high temperatures. Even at over
Accordingly, the Austrian sawmill industry currently has 1,000 metres above sea level, the second generation can be
sufficient stocks of round sawn softwood. Timber harvesting expected to appear in one to two weeks.
activities are focussed on processing damaged timber and Therefore, the greatest attention should be paid to forest

planned maintenance work. hygiene. Infested trees should be removed immediately.
Prepared timber is being transported away quickly and existing
forest stocks have been reduced. The storms and storms of
recent weeks have resulted in additional quantities of damaged globalnews.ca
timber, particularly in Tyrol, which can be accommodated on
the market. Prices are largely stable across a wide range and
are between €81 and €105 for the leading spruce A/C 2b+

assortment throughout Austria. As in the previous month,
demand for larch continues to exceed supply.