Wood Losing Ground In New Zealand

30 October 2007

Wood is losing ground to other building products according to latest research in New Zealand by building industry monitor BRANZ Ltd.
The research, commissioned by NZ Wood, shows timber products have lost some market share in the residential building market, its primary stronghold, and also in component markets such as flooring, framing and claddings.
“Over the past decade we have been missing opportunities to build in wood. NZ Wood aims to help turn that trend around,” says NZ Wood program manager Geoff Henley.
Key findings from the BRANZ research shows:
* Timber’s overall share of the house framing market has declined over recent years, from roughly 98% in 2000 to about 93% in 2006.
* The peak year for timber volume use was 2004, when new building activity peaked.
* Pine remains the dominant framing material with 80% of the market. However, its share has dropped from close to 95% in 2000. Douglas fir has enjoyed significant growth and now sits at about 12% of market share.
* Concrete dominates the flooring market (80%) and brick has 50% of the claddings market.
* Timber dominates the floor joist market, although there has been a considerable shift from solid timber (down from 86% to 61%) to hybeam products (up from almost nothing to nearly 20% of market share).
The research shows timber’s share of the flooring market for additions and alterations has fallen from just under 70% in 2000 to just under 60% in 2006. The difference has been picked up by concrete. Timber has also lost nearly 10% cladding market for additions and alterations during the past 6-7 years. It now holds about 30% of market share.

NAFI Plan For Forest Growth

The National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI) released its 10-point plan for growth in the forest industry of Australia on Sunday.
It believes both political parties should consider the plan when formulating election announcements and future policies affecting the forest and forest products industries.
The plan includes a focus on the industry’s role in mitigating climate change, the use of certification of Australian wood products to address illegal logging in the Asia-Pacific region, and the need for better management of conservation forests to reduce the severity and impact of bushfires.
With climate change a key issue this election, the plan outlines how political parties can work with the Australian forest industry to develop appropriate policies that recognise forestry is the only greenhouse-positive sector through its unique ability to absorb, capture and store carbon emissions.
“Wood products can be used as an alternative to greenhouse intensive products such as aluminium, steel and concrete, further reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere,” the plan notes.
The plan also outlines the forest industry’s proposed proposals on how best to curb illegal logging overseas.
A recent report has suggested that around 9% of timber products imported into Australia come from suspect origins. In response to this trend, the Australian forest industry strongly supports forest certification as a means to inform the market of the credentials of wood and paper products that are sourced from legally and sustainably-managed forests.
The 10-point plan also calls on political parties to provide a clearer national framework, which ensures adequate fire management in forest conservation reserves (including meeting prescribed burning targets) and fire access road maintenance across state jurisdictions.
“Around 130 million tonnes of CO₂ were emitted during Australia’s 2002/03 bushfire season (equivalent to one quarter of Australia’s total annual greenhouse emissions) and around 40 million tonnes of CO₂ were emitted during Victoria’s most recent bushfire season in 2007,” the plan notes.
Additionally, the devastation from the loss of over 4 million ha of forests in recent years through megafires has had significant impacts on biodiversity and water.

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