According to BIS Shrapnel’s Sawn Timber in Australia, 2012 to 2026 report demand for sawn timber in Australia during the next decade will be driven by sharp growth in the building and construction sector. Source: IHB
Due to the current undersupply of residential dwellings in Australia, BIS Shrapnel forecasts the residential construction sector, which uses more than 70 per cent of the sawn timber produced locally, will grow particularly strongly during 2014 and 2015.
Average annual domestic demand for sawn timber is forecast to increase from 4.9 million to 5.4 million cubic metres between 2012 and 2015, and rise again in the decade to 2026, from 5.4 million to 5.7 million cubic metres. This is compared with demand in 2011 of only 5.1 million cubic metres.
BIS Shrapnel report author and senior manager, Bernie Neufeld, said expected production of sawn timber would not be able to meet demand over the long term. Production of sawn timber will range between 4.5 million and 5.2 million cubic metres. This will not be sufficient to meet the projected demand.
“This suggests the Australian industry has the potential to accommodate new mills to service the domestic market and potential export markets. There is a need to expand the plantation resource to allow this to happen,” said Neufeld.
The report indicates that the Australian sawn timber industry is experiencing a temporary threat from imports as a result of a strong dollar and a global surplus of timber following the Global Financial Crisis. However, imports are not a significant long-term threat, as they are still well below the historical levels of 20 years ago.
According to the report over the last two decades there has been a significant reduction in sawn timber imports, as domestic production capacity has expanded.
At the same time, exports have grown rapidly in the past five years. In the two years to 2011, imports have increased by 30 per cent.
During the past three decades the hardwood sector has been subject to constraints arising from community pressures and government legislation to conserve resources.
Structural changes to the industry during the same period has seen smaller companies exit the industry, or absorbed by larger players such as Boral and Gunns.
Due to these factors, production and demand for hardwood has declined by almost 50 per cent over the past decade. BIS Shrapnel expects further declines of seven per cent to 12 per cent during the five-year period 2012 to 2016. Exports are expected to decline by 50 per cent and imports to increase marginally.
Despite declining demand, local prices are expected to experience upward pressure due to limitations on domestic production and supply, and rising import prices.
Major government-initiated softwood plantation programs are starting to pay dividends.
Long-term investments have supported the development of modern, larger-scale and more technology-savvy saw mill operations that are in a position to be more competitive with imports and in export markets, and to expand capacity as domestic and global markets improve.
The demand for softwood sawn timber increased by 15 per cent in the last decade. However, production increased by 21 per cent, as consumers shifted from using hardwood to softwood.
BIS Shrapnel expects the demand for softwood to continue to increase from 4.2 million cubic metres in 2012 to five million cubic metres by 2026, and production to increase to 4.6 million cubic metres.
“There will still be a requirement for imports, and a constraint on exports, unless the plantation resource and industry capacity is increased,” says Neufeld. “Strong demand and limited supply suggest strong price growth.”
