ForestNewsWire.com

Seattle, USA, August 22, 2008. Wood fiber costs, the major cost component when producing wood pulp, increased in practically all major pulp-producing regions around the world in the 2Q/08, according to the market report Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). This was both a result of a continued weakening of the US dollar against most major currencies and because of higher transport costs for both pulpwood and wood chips.

JESSUP, MD – Graphic Technology of Maryland, Inc. (GraphTec), a leading commercial printing company located in Jessup, Maryland, has extended its commitment to sustainable forestry by earning certification from three major organizations dedicated to preserving and protecting the world’s forests.  

Producers in emerging regions post promising financial results; European and Canadian producers impacted by market forces. The world's 100 largest forest, paper and fibre-based packaging products companies posted mixed financial results in 2007, reflecting the significantly different business and economic situations across regions.

The Government’s green light for participation by the forest industry in emissions trading has been applauded by A3P, the peak national body for Australia’s plantation products and paper industry. The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper was launched today at the National Press Club in Canberra.

Softwood sawlog prices have gone up faster in Europe than in any other region of the world the past two years, according to Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). Because wood costs account for 65-75% of the production costs when producing softwood lumber, they are the key factor determining a regions or company’s competitiveness.

Toronto, June 27, 2008 — Total forest, paper and packaging (FPP) deal values increased to US$27.6bn in 2007, up US$1.9bn on 2006, according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Branching Out report.

A3P, the peak body for Australia’s plantation products and paper industry, and the New Zealand Forest Owners’ Association (NZFOA) were today invited to address the 49^TH meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Advisory Committee on Paper and Wood Products outside Johannesburg, South Africa.