Oak might become unavailable on the European market within the next decade because of soaring demand by China and other Asian countries, the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) has warned.
EOS said European hardwood log exports had soared due to Asian demand, with total export tonnage for 2007 predicted to be up to 80% higher than 2004.
EOS, together with the European Federation of the Plywood Industry and European Federation of the Parquet Industry, have urged decision makers in Brussels to take “decisive” action to tackle the situation.
This includes securing the supply of the European regional market before exporting, facilitating long-term contracts between forest owners and producers, plus taking anti-dumping measures where appropriate.
More than one million tonnes of hardwood logs were exported in 2006 (the last year with full figures available). China bought 53% of those logs, with Morocco next at 18%. China had a 52% market share of oak log exports, followed by Turkey (29%), while Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia have a combined 12% share.
EOS said the combined effect of growing log exportation, shortage of logs in Europe and unfair competition due to low-price Chinese semi-finished products such as plywood and parquet was constraining the European woodworking industries.
“These difficulties jeopardise the jobs of workers in remote and rural areas and considerably impede the overall economic growth of the woodworking industries in Europe,” it said.
