2011 UPM Timber Bulletin - out now

Aug. 9, 2011 - PRLog -- The bulletin called 'Trends and influences on the UK standing coniferous timber sales market’ is   published once a year as an aid to growers and forest managers. It looks at imports, the impact of exchange rates, price trends, forecasts and other issues.

“The weak pound may not be to everyone’s liking but it certainly benefits the timber industry. Without it, we would have been in a very different place over the last 18 months,” explains Peter Whitfield, Timber Operations Director for UPM Tilhill.

Figures from the report highlight that demand for roundwood is currently stronger and price levels higher than they have been at any time in the last decade and UPM Tilhill predicts that 2011 will be another strong year.

UPM Tilhill’s predictions in the 2010 Timber Bulletin for a continued rise in the log price throughout 2010 have been proved correct with a further rise of 9 per cent from Q2 2010 to Q4.

A powerful driver for increasing domestic production is the price differential between domestic timber and imported timber from Scandinavia and the Baltics. This has reduced since the 2010 Timber Bulletin with domestic prices holding as imported prices fall. The differential is currently around £15 to £25m3.

UPM Tilhill believes the Renewable Heat Incentive will inevitably stimulate some renewed activity in biomass but a bankable biomass supply needs to be established and this, together with the current supply and demand balance, is far from easy to achieve unless small scale demand can be met from local supply arrangements.

“Overall, for much of the UK, supply and demand is close to balance and in some areas, particularly southern Scotland, demand is currently exceeding supply. Looking to the future would suggest that the demand for UK timber will remain healthy and we believe the main challenges facing the industry will be the market’s ability to meet high timber prices in the face of increased pressure on operating costs, continued high oil prices, high inflation and growers’ expectations for high prices for their standing timber,” Peter concluded.

For a copy of the UPM Tilhill Timber Bulletin, please contact UPM Tilhill on freephone
0800 328 2128 or download from the website: www.upm-tilhill.com

For further information please contact:
For further information please contact: Mrs Suzi Christie, Blueberry Public Relations Tel 01435 830031 suzi@blueberry-pr.co.uk

Notes to editors:

UPM Tilhill is the UK’s largest timber harvesting and forest management company. It harvests and markets over 2.0 million tonnes out of a UK market in excess of 8 million tonnes per year. The company provides a full range of consultancy and contracting services to the forest owner and forestry investor. It also provides market leading services in utility arboriculture and commercial landscaping throughout the UK.  Further information is available on the company’s website at www.upm-tilhill.com

UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 23,000 people and it has production facilities in 15 countries. In 2009, UPM's sales amounted to EUR 7.7 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange.