industry news
DANA Melbourne ‘Oceania Plantation and Wood Products Trade Conference: August 8 and 9, 2013 With less than a month to go until the DANA Melbourne Conference, it is time to register! There will be many “highlight” presentations at the meeting, all presented by recognised and highly regarded speakers on:
• The Oceania plantation transaction trade – given a very recent boost by a huge closing of the NF ANZ II Fund.
• The softwood and hardwood woodchip trade: from a
suppliers’, and an importers’ viewpoint; – and just how much pulpwood does Australia have?
• Oceania woodpellets – will they have a future with the expected new Asian demand growth?
• The global and Pacific Rim softwood log and lumber
supply demand and supply balance. Is a supercycle in the making – and how Oceania lumber production, domestic and export sales trends fit into this?
• The rapidly growing Oceania log export trade – how far can it go?
• The Pacific Rim Wood Panel industry, and where Oceania production might fit in the future.
• Global and Pacific Rim pulp and paper industries: has Oceania got much of a long term future in these industries?
• Tree-based carbon; moribund recently, but what might
give, with one new, and maybe yet another PM in 2013.
• A panel discussing exciting new biofuel and
biochemical developments, and (legal) engineered hardwood products. Small number of panel slots remain available.
• Keynote addresses on policy and supply chain issues so vital to the industry; and other talks on statistics, a new study on wood product manufacturing options, and FSC issues
We are u nlikely to again see such a strong li presente nkup of rs cover ing all impor tant the Ocea aspects of nia fores try and fore st produ cts industry
To register immediately, go to: www.prcc.com.au/ danamelbourne2013 and just follow the registration links or contact Pamela Richards at pam@prcc.com.au PAgE 8 | issuE 279 | 22.07.13
On target .. levy on harvested logs in New Zealand lodged with government.
nZ forests levy takes vital step Introduction likely in January AN application for the introduction of a compulsory levy on harvested logs in New Zealand has been lodged with the Associate Minister for Primary Industries Jo Goodhew. “This is an important step in the process of getting a levy order under the Commodity Levies Act and follows a successful forest grower referendum in March,” Forest Growers levy trust chair Geoff Thompson said. “Officials will now take several months to assess the application and all the accompanying detail about levy collection, budgeting and ongoing structure. We are fundamentally on target to introduce the levy from January 1, 2014.” The trust has consulted mills, log marketing companies and export marshalling companies about the systems that need to be in place to secure the log harvesting data needed for the trust to collect the levy. “Feedback from these discussions has been very helpful and will strongly influence the shape of our data collection system,” Mr Thompson said.
“Log buyers will play a central role in the system and the minister needs to be satisfied about the particulars of collection and the cooperation requested from participants.” The trust will continue to keep potential levy payers informed of developments, but this is not easy because there is no central database of forest growers to allow direct contact. Instead the trust is using its ForestVoice website, industry publications and other media. The month-long levy referendum had a successful outcome with 502 growers (86.3%) voting ‘yes’. The results on numbers voting and hectares represented by the ‘yes’ vote were the same. Analysis of the vote satisfied the trust that the turnout was on a par with similar commodity referendums. The proposed levy rate is 27c a tonne of harvested wood in the first year and can be raised to a maximum rate of 30c a tonne over the six-year term of the levy order. With sharply increased harvesting now occurring, the income from the levy is likely to exceed $6.5 million annually.
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