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Expo Promueble 2009
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By Fernanda Vale
Expo Promueble, where furniture manufacturers and suppliers
exhibited, took place from January 21st to 24th at "Centro
Banamex" in Mexico City. Members of the SPC, NAWLA, and
PLEA were in attendence, helping Mexican and US staff
educating a steady stream of show attendees.
Even though the current conditions of the world economy is
not good, people were interested in learning about and
acquiring US softwood products. During the tradeshow there
were all kinds of attendees, but it can confidently be said
that 50% were lumber distributors (basically requesting
Ponderosa Pine and SYP); 40% were furniture manufacturers
(whom uses Mexican as well as US, Chilean and Peruvian
lumber); the remaining 10 % were either architects or
engineers that specify lumber for construction purposes and
for exterior uses, mainly polin, (3x3 - 8 foot
poles) timbers, structural lumber and plywood. It is worth
to mention that some furniture manufacturers requested
particle board and MDF, and that Ponderosa Pine and SYP (for
furniture, moldings, pallets , packaging ,different
structural and exterior uses) were the species most
requested.
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Japan Housing Starts |
Housing Starts Increase 3.1 Percent in 2008
Housing starts in Japan increased by 3.1 percent to
1.093 million units in 2008, mostly due to the reduction in
starts in 2007 when changes were made in the Building
Standard Law. 2x4 starts increased 9.3 percent to 107,707
units and were the highest on record, eclipsing the record
of 105,390 units in 2006. Following world trends, housing
starts in December 2008 were down 5.8 percent compared to
the same time last year to 82,197 units. High rise steel and
concrete condominiums increased 5.9 percent to 29,003 units
in December 2008. Wooden starts were down 11.5 percent to
42,342 units, 2x4 starts were down 6.4 percent to 10,311
units, post and beam starts were down 13.3 percent to 42,342
units and wooden prefab declined 8.6 percent to 1,562 units.
The seasonally adjusted annual housing starts were 1.001
million units and the share of wooden housing starts was
51.5 percent of total starts in December 2008.
Wooden Starts
(January to December)
TYPE
2008 2007 Change
Total
516,868 504,546 102.4%
Single Family 261,955
257,556 101.7%
Rental Units
142,717 128,257 111.3%
Company Housing
1,655 1,487 111.3%
Speculative Housing
110,541 117,246 94.3%
2x4 Starts (January to December)
TYPE 2008
2007 Change
Total 107,707
98,555 109.3%
Single Family
29,615 27,743 106.7%
Rental Units
60,998 51,718 117.9%
Company Housing
112 151 74.2%
Speculative Housing
16,982 18,943 89.6%
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Northern Europe Market |
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by Eddie Pearce
January 2009, for the timber trade across Europe has shown
to be a very slow start. With building and construction of
housing at a virtual standstill, there has been a very
significant downturn in demand for timber and timber
products.
The Swedish timber industry reported a reduction in sawn
timber production by 7.5% to 17.5million m³ in 2008.A
similar situation also exists in Finland where sawn timber
production was down by 20%. In both cases this a reflection
of the downturn in demand for sawn timber across the world
not just Europe.
Although the Swedish sawn timber producers are exporting
less to Europe, USA and Japan, they are increasing exports
to a number of African countries such as Egypt and Libya and
also to the Middle East fairly successfully. This is in
direct competition to American softwoods where increased
exports have been recorded.
United Kingdom:
In the UK softwood imports have dropped by 31% in 2008 to
5.51million m³ compared with 2007 at 7.946 million m³.
Unfortunately, the forecast for 2009 is for even lower
import volumes.
This is reflected by the fact that housing levels in the UK
dropped by 43% in 2008 and the forecast for housing is for
a further reduction in the number to be built in 2009.
The only positive aspect for the building and construction
industry in the UK are the 2012 London Olympics where there
will be an increasing demand for timber and timber products
as it starts to build all the accommodation buildings,
which has as yet not yet begun.
Germany:
The renovation sector of the building industry in Germany
has helped to keep the window industry very active, even
though the level of house building continues to fall.
However, commentators in the industry do not think this
level of activity will continue into 2009.
A number timber producing companies have announced that they
will be extending the periods of shut downs already planned.
This is in direct response to the level of demand for sawn
timber. The German sawmilling industry, as a whole, is
anticipating a reduction of up to 30% of sawn timber
production volumes.
France:
The level of new housing that were built in France fell by
18% for the year ending in October 2008. According to the
Ministry responsible for housing indicated that this trend
is to continue in 2009. This will impact the timber industry
which is already seeing a downturn in demand for sawn
timber.
Severe storms hit southwest France during January affecting
very badly the Maritime pine forest along the coast of this
part of France. The level of impact on the sawmilling
industry in this region has not as yet been determined but
first indicators are that they could be significant. As a
consequence, the demand for Southern Pine could possibly
increase.
The Benelux Region:
This region is also going against the trend with continued
increases in demand for American softwoods with both Douglas
fir and Southern Pine benefiting.
Other Markets
American Softwoods continues to be active with its presence
in the UAE, the Middle East, North Africa and India to
ensure these markets continue to import US softwood
products. To this end American Softwoods will be
participating in a number trade shows in Dubai, UAE and
Delhi, India during this program year.
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MadeExpo 2009 |
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By Ignacio Martinez
The event, hold every year since 2008 in Milan, is Italy's
largest show for the timber and woodworking industries,
attracting more than 75,000 visitors over the course of four
days. The trade show is the largest opportunity to gain
visibility among the architects and designers, window and
door manufacturers and carpenters in Italy. This show offers
an excellent opportunity to outline the quality features of
the American products, with special remarks on the
environmental aspects.
This first participation at this show has been very
instructive for several reasons:
· The large visitors traffic that this city
secures.
· A noticeable number of architects and design
professionals touring the exhibition
· Not less, appreciable amount of carpenters and
wood industry people attracted.
The high numbers of visitors provide with ample samples
about the current situation of both the economy and the
industry in general. In broad terms, the current
economical situation in Italy is bad, but compared with
other countries around shows a reasonable level of
activity. However, the numbers of industries that are
announced to take measures to weather the difficulties
are increasing. According to some visitors, the upswing
change in Italy is delayed to just two months ahead.
Right now, it is more a question of the winter stop than
the general situation, at least in the construction
sector.
The presence of wood products in interiors is important
through the exhibition. It is predominant the proposal
of value added products and components, but also
finished products: from staircases to window frames.
Therefore, this exhibition is very well adapted for
industries manufacturing this type of products beyond
sawn wood. Any type of components like steps, glued
panels, finger jointed stock, window blanks and a large
list of joinery products may find easy accommodation at
MadeExpo.
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Upcoming Trade Shows
and Seminars |
February
- Delhi
Wood Show, Feb 12-15, New Delhi
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KH Housing Fair, Feb 18-23 Seoul
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WoodMac China, Feb 17-20 Shanghai
March
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Interzum Guangzhou, March 27-30 Guangzhou
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A+C Show, March 3-6 Tokyo
April
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Dubai Wood,
April 21-23 Dubai
May
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Interzum, May
13-16 Koln
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Design Build
Australia May 21-23 Sydney
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USCB Sales
Mission May 11-15 Fuzhou, Kunming and Chengdu
June
September
- FMC China September 9-12 Shanghai
www.softwood.org/calender |
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