GLG News by Timber and Forest Industry Consultants

Three important industry segments, newsprint (and its related grades of SC and mechanical specialites), Uncoated FreeSheet (UFS) and Coated FreeSheet have all experienced significant declines in overall North American demand.  Something has to be done if prices are going to keep up with rising...

The global fluff pulp market now measures 4.5 million mt with the US enjoying a dominant position.  Can we maintain that position or even expand it?  Industry observers believe our position is very secure and that we are in the best position to expand.  What's behind this optimism? Fluff...

The Uncoated FreeSheet market in North America is declining with the Internet and electronic devices being blamed for much of it. Is this really the case?  In spite of this decline selling prices have increased with few objections from  major buyers.  Is there any...

Sierra Pacific is auctioning off ~5000 acres of timberlands that they have identified as having higher values for uses other than growing timber.  This is typical of the trend occurring on most large timberland holdings that have been traditionally owned and managed for timber production. Though...

Wood quality should be fine if handled properly on exposure to the air.  There is plenty of experience of harvesting swamp buried timber in NZ. Existing technology can be modified for such lake harvesting. Because of water displacement, the weight of trees underwater is considerably less than weight...

Worldwatch Institute is correct regarding the bad press generated by the northern hemisphere's unbalanced rush into first generation biofuel. Remove government subsidies as is the case in New Zealand and things will approach a more normal, sensible, and financially and environmentally secure path. NZ...

Harvesting tropical hardwoods which have been submerged for 40 years may be environmentally beneficial but is this overshadowing the commercial considerations? Three Main Points: 1. Was nothing learned from the abandoned Camaroons pulp mill project that cost investors $250 million dollars? 2. To be...

Jouko Karvinen became CEO in 2006 and obviously has a different vision than his predecessor Jukka Harmala did 7 years ago when they purchased Consolidated Papers.  Last year the N.A. division generated 2 billion Euros and produced a profit of $295 million.   Does he see little growth...

Domtar wants to be totally focused on (a) paper - Uncoated FreeSheet and (b) market pulp - hardwood, softwood and fluff.  They feel it's necessary to free themselves of 12 sawmills and 5 joint venture mills.  A newly formed company, Conifex, was prepared to take over all these mills and to...

Market Pulp is a global commodity  produced in 19 countries totalling 58 million mt this year.  Will a new 1.1 million mt/mill upset the supply/demand balance and cause a downturn in pricing?   Eucalyptus (referred to as BEKP) has a new price of US$755/admt as of Sept.1st. which...