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Vietnam’s Forest Product Exports Set to Reach Record USD 17.3 Billion in 2024
VIETNAM - In 2024, Vietnam's export turnover of forest products is expected to reach a historic high of USD 17.3 billion, with wood and wood products contributing USD 16.3 billion. The trade surplus from these exports is projected to be USD 14.4 billion. In December...
Koskisen’s Strategic Investment in Plywood Industry
FINLAND - Koskisen has announced a new investment program to enhance plywood production at its plant in Järvelä. The program will run until 2027, with an initial phase of EUR 12 million planned for 2025. “We are focusing our investments on the Panel Industry,...
Egger Reports Stable Performance Amid Uncertainty
AUSTRIA – The Egger Group, one of the largest wooden panel manufacturers in the world, based in St. Johann in Tirol, Austria, closed the first half of its 2024/2025 financial year with consolidated sales of EUR 2.1 billion, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.2%...
Global Wood & Paper Trade Drops 12% in 2023
USA - Global trade in wood and paper products dropped by 12% in 2023, according to the FAO's Global Forest Products Facts and Figures 2023. Exports fell by $64 billion to $482 billion, still above pre-2021 levels, but indicating lower prices amid an economic slowdown....
Sarah Kutulakos Named First FSC Regional Director for North America
USA - The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is pleased to announce Sarah Kutulakos as the first Regional Director for North America, effective January 1, 2025. This appointment marks a key step in FSC's expansion and reinforces its mission to promote responsible forest...
SCM Presents Edgebanding Innovations for Doors
ITALY – SCM Group recently hosted the Flexible Edgebanding for Doors event in Thiene, Italy, on December 6th-7th, bringing together industry professionals to explore the latest advancements in the manufacturing sector. The event showcased SCM’s advanced door...
Imports Make up 7% of U.S. Construction Materials
USA – In 2023, the U.S. residential construction sector imported USD 13 billion in materials, representing 7% of the USD 184 billion spent on materials for new single-family and multifamily housing, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The...
Garnica and Tecnalia Innovate in Sanding Dust Valorization
SPAIN – The Garnica Group and Tecnalia have teamed up for an R&D project to transform waste from wood panel production into high-value materials for construction, focusing on valorizing sanding dust from plywood-type panels. Sustainability policies promote waste...
Pfleiderer Reinforces its Commitment to Diversity
GERMANY - As part of the ongoing development of its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives, Pfleiderer, one of the main wooden panel manufacturers in Germany, has signed the Diversity Charter, further committing to a respectful and prejudice-free work...
Lithuanian Furniture Maker Invests USD 70 million in New US Plant
LITHUANIA - SBA Home, a Lithuanian furniture manufacturer, will invest over USD 70 million to establish its first North American production facility in Mocksville, North Carolina, creating more than 200 jobs in Davie County. Part of the SBA Grupe UAB conglomerate, the...
Koelnmesse is Revamping its Furniture and Interior Design Events
GERMANY - Koelnmesse, a global leader in trade fair organization, is revamping its furniture and interior design events to better meet market demands. Starting in January 2026, imm cologne will focus annually on the consumer market with a streamlined, targeted...
Hexion Acquires Smartech to Boost AI Manufacturing
USA – Hexion Inc., a global leader in adhesives and performance materials, has acquired Smartech, an AI-driven technology company specializing in autonomous manufacturing solutions. This marks Hexion’s first acquisition in a decade and is a key move in the company's...
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Spanish Furniture Sector Sees Stable International Sales in 6M-2024
SPAIN - International sales in the Spanish furniture sector remain nearly unchanged in 6M-2024 from the same period last year, showing a slight increase of 0.9%, totaling EUR 1.54 billion. Meanwhile, Spanish furniture imports have risen by 3.4% during the first half...
European Associations Call for Delay in EUDR Implementation
BELGIUM - On September 25, 2024, 29 European associations, including the European Panel Federation (EPF), the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI-Bois), and the European Timber Trade Federation, released a joint statement urging a delay in the...
VDMA Lowers 2024 Woodworking Machinery Forecast
GERMANY – VDMA (German Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association) Woodworking Machinery has retracted its forecast for 2024, expecting a 15% decline in production, down to EUR 3.6 billion in Germany. This follows a record EUR 4.2 billion in 2023. With 3,600...
Mixed Latam Plywood Imports Growth in 2023
COLOMBIA - Plywood imports in Latin America during 2023 have shown a mixed picture. Despite a slight decline in overall imports compared to 2022, some countries have experienced significant changes in their figures. According to data from Sisduan, total plywood...
Brazil Calls for EU to Reevaluate Deforestation Import Ban
BRAZIL – Brazil government authorities urge the European Commission to reconsider its anti-deforestation rules, which could impact its exports by nearly USD 15 billion. The EU's 2022 legislation bans imports from deforested areas after 2022, effective December 30,...
Mixed Results for Italy’s Wood-Furniture Sector in First Half of 2024
ITALY - The Italian wood-furniture sector has had a challenging start to the year, experiencing a sales contraction of 5.2% in the first half (6M-2024), affecting both the domestic market (6.0%) and the export market (4.1%). However, forecasts for the remainder of...
Spanish Particleboard Exports to LATAM Up 58.8% in 6M-2024
SPAIN - From January to July 2024, Spain has seen a general increase in particleboard / MDP exports, reaching a total of USD 76.5 million, a 58.8% rise from USD 48.2 million in 6M-2023. Among the countries showing the most significant improvements compared to last...
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