The global wood market has become incredibly dynamic, a situation characterised by shifting economic power, growing demand for wood fibre and the new products being made from it, and emerging anxiety over the future of raw-materials supply. Companies are adapting to the situation with a view to securing sources of supply and markets for their products, and diversification is one logical response.
Many of what have become the UK’s more regular sources of supply are experiencing increased costs of raw-materials and production, lost capacity, growing demand from markets elsewhere, and their attention to the UK market can no longer be taken for granted.
It may be for this reason that buyers are looking increasingly to Canadian mills as potential long-term partners going forward.
For example, Roger Mitchell (UK) Ltd has become the UK agent for Tembec, a Canadian mill able to supply high-quality structural softwoods. FSC-certified TEMSELECT CLS is being sold currently, and carcassing can also be made available subject to demand.
Reports suggest that planned UK power stations will require over 55 million tonnes of biomass (comprising mainly wood) each year, and with more than a strong likelihood that home-grown supplies will need to be supplemented by imported wood pellets, buyers are again looking to Canada.
Also at the level of factory-built wood frame homes, Canadian suppliers are being recognised as being capable of responding rapidly to any upturn in UK demand for energy efficient clean houses, and relationships are being forged.
Canadian suppliers have learned from recent experience that they cannot rely solely on demand placed by their southern neighbour, and many would question the wisdom of putting too great a reliance on the meteoric growth seen in Asia. As a consequence, mills are increasingly looking to establish a presence in the UK. Canada Wood UK is a collaboration between Canadian wood products industry associations and government for the creation of a single global representation, and the UK office has recently added The Ontario Wood Products Export Association (OWPEA) to its list of partners.
The initiative reflects the interest the producer members have in the UK market. OWPEA members offer a great variety of products that include softwood and hardwood lumber, engineered wood products, prefabricated timber frame housing, log homes, treated wood, millwork and other finished products.
The Quebec Wood Export Bureau has long recognised the potential for growth in the UK housing market and works with Canada Wood UK to help its member companies produce factory-built wood frame homes that are up-to-date with UK Building Regulations and CE marking requirements. Canadian companies have also looked closely at opportunities to supply wood pellets and help satisfy emergent European demand, particularly given the potential to use wood fibre once destined for pulp, and investment in pellet manufacture is rapidly becoming realised in production.
After a hiatus of more than 10 years there are early signs of reformation of the traditional relationship between Canadian wood products exporters and the UK market, albeit for new reasons, under changed market conditions, and involving a far broader scope of products.
