Domestic demand for logs and sawn timber remains strong with regional differences in log supply and demand due to previous mill closures, and increased harvest volumes in the better weather conditions.
The October At Wharf Gate (AWG) log prices received by forest owners increased by NZ$4-5 per JASm3 from the September prices. Demand for logs remains strong in China driven by domestic consumption for construction, however China’s export markets for furniture and other wood products remains weak.
Due to the increase in export log prices and domestic structural prices the PF Olsen Log Price Index increased by NZ$3 in October to NZ$119. The index is currently NZ$3 below the two-year average, NZ$5 below the three-year average, and NZ$4 below the five-year average. For the last three months the index has tracked along the same path as the corresponding period last year.
Domestic Log Market
Log Supply and Pricing
The balance between log supply and demand is varied around the country. Most regions in the North Island and the lower South Island have an excess of supply and particularly non-FSC logs. Nelson and Christchurch have a shortage of structural logs, but sufficient pruned logs. Prices for structural logs have increased by $2-$4 per tonne in Northland and the South Island.
Sawn Timber Markets
Domestic demand for both industrial and structural sawn timber is strong and remains well ahead of predictions. There is usually a quiet period leading up to a general election in New Zealand as people delay projects to see what the new regime may bring. This year the domestic demand for sawn timber has remained strong. The very low interest rates and a higher number of expatriate New Zealanders returning to New Zealand has driven demand.
New Zealand exports of fibreboard to China fell 27% in the first half of 2020. This is explored further later in this article. Export markets are still relatively strong. The clearwood demand in Europe remains strong despite uncertainty due to Covid-19.
Export Log Market
China
The CFR prices have increased for New Zealand pine logs due to increasing demand as China is in its peak construction season. The price for A grade New Zealand pine logs in October ranges from 119-122 USD per JASm3.
Log inventory in China has increased about 300k m3 in the last month to around 4.6m m3, with congestion now only at the one area in Lan Shan where there is a 12-14 days delay in ship unloading. While this level of log stock is higher than usual at this time of the year, an increase of 300k m3 was not unexpected as China went through Chinese National Day Holiday week in the first week of October.
Daily log use in China is now reported at 100k to 105k m3 which has increased by 20k m3 from last month. The busy construction season that we predicted is happening. There are differing views on how long this activity will last, but it would be good for New Zealand log suppliers to see stock levels reduce during this high demand period.
The CAIXIN manufacturing PMI index moved down slightly in September from 53.1 to 53.0. This shows the sector remains healthy. (A PMI above 50 indicates expansion and the August number of 53.1 was the highest since January 2011).
The weakness of the furniture markets (both China’s domestic and export markets) has contributed to the rapid shrinking of the medium density fibreboard (MDF) market. China exports of furniture products fell 24% to US$ 7.4 bln in the first half of 2020. A rise in customised home furnishings in China has also led to the rapid development of the particle board market (low density fibreboard), at the expense of MDF.
New Zealand exports of fibreboard to China fell 27% in the first of 2020. Overall, China imports of fibreboard were down 26% in the first half of 2020. China exports of fibreboard was down 21% in the first half of 2020. This trade was affected by Covid-19 issues affecting both supply and demand. China’s imports of particleboard were up 15%, and exports were down by only 1%, despite the Covid-19 impact on trade.
There are currently 32 fibreboard production lines under construction in China with a total output capacity of 6.51 million m3 per year. The fibreboard production lines under construction will come on-line over the next two years. This will lift the total annual fibreboard production capacity in China to 56 million m3.
Recently, the Guangxi Lelin Group and Dieffenbacher concluded a deal for a 600,000 m3 per annum formaldehyde-free fibreboard project. This, the Group claims, will be the largest single-line production plant in the world. The continuous press is 2.7m wide and 80 m long.
Five new particleboard production mills with an annual output of 1 million m3 have recently become operational in Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui and Guangxi Provinces of which four are continuous flat pressing lines with annual output capacity of 950,000 m3. 25 particleboard production lines were under construction in China in the first half of 2020 with annual output of 6.96 million m3.
China export of plywood to Europe is back to normal levels but exporters are having to cope with increased freight costs from 1,400 USD per FEU to 2,000 USD per FEU over the last couple of months. The strengthening CNY against the USD has also meant exporters have requested price increases of 3-5% which the market is resisting due to uncertainty as Europe suffers further Covid-19 impacts.
India
In Kandla, demand for sawn timber from New Zealand logs is steady at 471 INR per CFT. Sawn timber from Uruguay logs is sold at 461 INR per CFT. October log supply will be predominantly from Uruguay. Forecast supply in November will be a combination of New Zealand and Uruguay logs.
Uruguay logs are usually sold at about a 10% discount to New Zealand logs and customers are shifting to the lower priced logs to offset their losses from the impacts of Covid-19.
Sawmills in Gandhidham (near Kandla) are now operating at 70% capacity, as labourers have started to return from their homes in the East. Many of the workers in this area are from the poorer states in the East such as Uttar Pradash, Odisha, and Assam. After Diwali in mid-November, many sawmills expect productivity to return close to 100%.
In Tuticorin prices for sawn timber are higher at 521 INR per CFT. There is a log shortage due to container shortages.
Exchange rates
The NZD weakened against the USD in the latter part of September and had almost dropped 2 cents from a mid-September peak when October AWG prices were set.
The CNY has continued to strengthen against the USD increasing the buying power of the Chinese log buyers.
NZD:USD
CNY:USD
Ocean Freight
Freight rates for logs to China have increased by 1-2 USD per JASm3 over the last month.
Source: TradingEconomics.com
The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) is a composite of three sub-indices, each covering a different carrier size: Capesize (40%), Panamax (30%), and Supramax (30%). It displays an index of the daily USD hire rates across 20 ocean shipping routes. Whilst most of the NZ log trade is shipped in handy size vessels, this segment is strongly influenced by the BDI.
Singapore Bunker Price
(IFO380) (red line) versus Brent Oil Price (grey line)
Source: Ship & Bunker
PF Olsen Log Price Index – October 2020
Due to the increase in export log prices and domestic structural prices the PF Olsen Log Price Index increased by $3 in October to $119. The index is currently $3 below the two-year average, $5 below the three-year average, and $4 below the five-year average. For the last three months the index has tracked along the same path as the corresponding period last year.
Basis of Index: This Index is based on prices in the table below weighted in proportions that represent a broad average of log grades produced from a typical pruned forest with an approximate mix of 40% domestic and 60% export supply.
Indicative Average Current Log Prices – October 2020
| Log Grade | $/tonne at mill | $/JAS m3 at wharf | ||||||||||
| Oct-20 | Sep-20 | Aug-20 | Jul-20 | Jun-20 | May-20 | Oct-20 | Sep-20 | Aug-20 | Jul-20 | Jun-20 | May-20 | |
| Pruned (P40) | 170-195 | 170-200 | 170-200 | 170-200 | 170-200 | 160-180 | 165-175 | 155-165 | 162 | 162 | 170 | 180-190 |
| Structural (S30) | 115-130 | 110-120 | 110-120 | 110-120 | 110-120 | 110-120 | ||||||
| Structural (S20) | 105 | 105 | 105 | 105 | 105 | 105 | ||||||
| Export A | 128 | 123 | 119 | 119 | 125 | 154 | ||||||
| Export K | 120 | 115 | 111 | 110 | 117 | 146 | ||||||
| Export KI | 112 | 106 | 102 | 104 | 111 | 138 | ||||||
| Export KIS | 104 | 97 | 95 | 99 | 105 | 130 | ||||||
| Pulp | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 | ||||||
Note: Actual prices will vary according to regional supply/demand balances, varying cost structures and grade variation. These prices should be used as a guide only.
A longer series of these prices is available here.
Log Prices
Select chart tabs
This article is reproduced from PF Olsen's Wood Matters, with permission.
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