A glut of pine is forecast in the southern US over the next 15 years, possibly leading to lower prices for tree farmers.
Government schemes which paid landowners to plant trees in the 1980s are the reason for the expected oversupply.
Timber from some of the 32 million acres of pine planted since 1985 is already being delivered into pulp and sawmills, with a glut in pulpwood already being experienced. Pine varieties loblolly and slash pine reach maturity at just 25-35 years.
The biggest effects on price are expected to be in pulpwood and ‘chip-and-saw'(used for pulpwood or lumber).
