Sawn structural softwood consumption in Australia was more than 30% higher in October 2018, than in October 2017, new analysis by IndustryEdge shows. At 210,186 m3 in October 2018, apparent consumption of structural grades was at its second highest ever monthly level, bested only by August 2018’s 237,774 m3. The… Read More
Sustainable paper industry continues performance: latest report
Australia’s pulp and paper industry continued its sustainability performance over the last year, a new report demonstrates. The 2018 National Pulp & Paper Industry Sustainability Report provides summary analysis of major sustainability measures, and is consistent with similar reports from other countries. From reductions in energy use sufficient to power… Read More
Woodchip export prices surged in September
Australia’s woodchip exports were valued at AUD1.377 billion on a free-on-board basis over the year-ended September 2018. Almost 91% of the value was delivered by the massive hardwood chip export trade. In September, hardwood chip exports averaged AUDFob207.70/bdmt (bone dried metric tonnes). In US dollar terms, hardwood chips averaged USDFob150.00/bdmt,… Read More
Unintended consequences: How being shut out of the US market has worked for Australian packaging producers
Australia’s exports of Kraftliner and Corrugating Medium to the USA were wiped out in the September Quarter, because of the trade dispute between the USA and China. Following June Quarter shipments to the USA that totalled in excess of 46.0 kt, exports of the two-containerboard grades plunged to literally zero. Read More
Import data delay linked directly to confidentiality restrictions – what’s going on?
In a departure from the normal consistency of data provision, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) was unable to deliver import data on the scheduled date in November. The cause was technical challenges created by what can only be described as an explosion in requests for confidentiality restrictions to be… Read More
House prices are falling – and the size of owner-occupier loans proves it
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