The total number of housing loans fell in September – but for the usually stable owner-occupier loans, the falls were quite steep. Over the year-ended September 2018, the total number of loans to owner-occupiers was 2.8% lower than the prior year. However, the average size of loans grew from September… Read More
Global industry continues transformation – next steps in Australia
To support the continued efforts to transform the Australian economy to a more sustainable footprint, a new Industry Transformation Research Hub has been established at the Bio-resource Processing Research Institute of Australia (BioPRIA) at Monash University. The hub – Processing Advanced Lignocellulosics into Advanced Materials (PALS) – will receive AUD6.8 million of… Read More
Communication paper demand falls 4.8%
Australian demand for Printing & Communication papers fell 4.8% in 2017-18. This grade of paper includes everything from copy paper, to magazines, brochures, leaflets and catalogues delivered into letterboxes. Trend forecasts suggest – based on three different scenarios – that demand will decline between 3.8% and 4.9% per annum through… Read More
Australians consumed 2.1 kg less paper in 2017-18
Australia’s per capita consumption of paper and paperboard fell 1.6% over 2017-18, with average consumption declining to a total of 129.3 kg, according to the latest analysis by IndustryEdge. The decline in Australia’s total per capita consumption was softened by rising domestic consumption of Packaging & Industrial (P&I) paper and… Read More
Unpacking the box market
Increased demand for boxes of all kinds is causing prices to rise. In this special feature for PKN Magazine, we explain the market conditions and drivers that are delivering strong price growth. Click here to download the feature. Read More
Big jump in MDF imports raises strategic questions
Imports of MDF leaped 41% over the year-ended February, totalling more than 131,000m3. The rise in imports of MDF, along with higher imports of all other panel products raises important strategic questions for the domestic industry, according to trade and market consultants IndustryEdge. Source: IndustryEdge for Timberbiz Analysis of the… Read More
NEW & FREE – Paper Industry Overview & Outlook
Which sectors are growing? What is the outlook for pulp, recovered paper, newsprint, printing papers, tissue and packaging in the Australasian market? Australian and New Zealand pulp and paper industry overview for 2017 and outlook for 2022 – including consumption projections – available now for FREE download from IndustryEdge. Thanks… Read More
OSB imports continue to rise
Australia’s consumption of sheathing material, especially Oriented Strandboard has grown strongly in recent years, faster in fact than the rate of housing growth would suggest. Source: IndustryEdge for Timberbiz Over the last year, imports of OSB rose almost 50% and for the year-ended February, topped 50,000 m3 for the first… Read More
Log exports above 5 million m3 per year
Australia’s log exports remained above 5 million m3 per annum for the second successive month in February, with exports totalling a new record 5.067 million m3. Source: IndustryEdge and Timberbiz Softwood log exports continued to dominate, totalling 4.914 million m3 for the year and accounting for close to 97% of… Read More
Softwood chip prices up 21% in February
Australia’s woodchip exports totalled 580,785 bone dry metric tonnes (bdmt) in February 2018, with hardwood chips at 494,345 (bdmt). Softwood chips continued their recent strength, totalling 86,440 bdmt. Source: IndustryEdge, Timberbiz Latest data analysed for the Australian industry by market and trade consulting experts IndustryEdge shows average hardwood export prices… Read More