UN timber experts are forecasting an upturn in wood consumption, production and trade in 2010 and 2011.
Experts meeting at the UNECE timber committee in Geneva last month said the improvement would be strongest in Europe and Russia, but full recovery of the UNECE region forest products markets needed US housing starts to recover to a more sustainable level of near one million homes.
Following a 13.8% drop in sawn softwood consumption in 2009 to 155.3 million m³, the figure is predicted to rise by 7.5% this year and by 2.2% more in 2011 to reach 170.7 million m³.
In Europe, sawn softwood production is expected to rise by 7.9% to 98.2 million m³ in 2010 and 100 million m³ in 2011. Consumption will be 91.2 million m³ this year, up by 9.8%, and 93.2 million m³ in 2011.
Sawn hardwood consumption is also forecast to improve after a long decline, with demand greatest in North America where a 3.7% growth to 16.4 million m³ is expected next year.
Consumption and production are forecast to rise by 3.2% to 13.5 million m³ and 13.1 million m³ respectively.
Demand for panel products is expected to grow across the UNECE region in 2011, with consumption forecast to rise by 3% in North America and 9% in Europe.
The level of industrial roundwood harvesting is expected to increase in Europe by about 6% annually in 2010 and 2011 as markets begin to rebound.
