The outlook for forest products markets is set to remain poor with no recovery in 2002, according to the timber committee of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE).
The global economic slowdown has been compounded by the terrorist attacks in the US, increasing the risk of recession in the sector, the ECE says, and affecting demand for new homes and furniture.
Canada expects its exports to fall by 5% this year as a result of the continuing softwood lumber dispute with the US, while output for the whole of North America is expected to fall by 2% to 150 million m3, before stabilising next year.
Russia is bucking the trend with an expected 9% increase in sawn softwood consumption this year to 11 million m3 and a further 5% in 2002.
The ECE covers 55 countries across North America, Europe and Asia.
