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 analysis uses several monthly datasets, drawing them together in a repeatable and reliable dataset that will soon be available to IndustryEdge clients, and has been developed with several key clients directly involved. As the chart below shows, local aggregated production data, combined with international trade data combines to provide a ‘one glance’ indicator of the state of the Australian sawn structural softwood market.

IndustryEdge considers that the new dataset can be used as another means to demonstrate what phase the Australian housing market is at, and over time, will show the correlation between housing and timber markets more precisely.

Being able to isolate those grades that are used primarily in structural applications provides data that has not previously been available. Having that data ‘in the market’ every month will provide insights that could be important in business level decision making.

The new data series was first published in the December edition of Wood Market Edge and will be summarised there, every month.