Scott Downs
Latest articles
Export log prices rise slightly but only because the NZD has fallen. China & India demand soft, domestic demand weak and mills shutting for longer than usual
29th Nov 24, 10:45am
by Scott Downs
Export log prices rise slightly but only because the NZD has fallen. China & India demand soft, domestic demand weak and mills shutting for longer than usual
Demand from local sawmills is low so more logs are being exported. Demand from China is firm but fragile, from India it is soft. As summer approaches more log supply is expected
28th Oct 24, 10:11am
by Scott Downs
1
Demand from local sawmills is low so more logs are being exported. Demand from China is firm but fragile, from India it is soft. As summer approaches more log supply is expected
Local timber processors rocked by very low demand and very high electricity costs. China demand still hamstrung by property market woes. India demand hurt by high freight rates and more competition
4th Sep 24, 11:26am
by Scott Downs
Local timber processors rocked by very low demand and very high electricity costs. China demand still hamstrung by property market woes. India demand hurt by high freight rates and more competition
Local demand for sawn timber worryingly low. Demand in China inhibited by floods and weak economy. Monsoons delaying India demand
31st Jul 24, 9:51am
by Scott Downs
2
Local demand for sawn timber worryingly low. Demand in China inhibited by floods and weak economy. Monsoons delaying India demand
Chinese log demand is steady and inventories are falling allowing small increases in at-wharf log prices, helping offset weak domestic demand
1st Jul 24, 10:19am
by Scott Downs
3
Chinese log demand is steady and inventories are falling allowing small increases in at-wharf log prices, helping offset weak domestic demand
With 2024 planting season underway, log prices remain stuck below long run averages. Price rises in China unlikely to bring higher returns. Domestic demand is low and slipping
1st Jun 24, 10:37am
by Scott Downs
1
With 2024 planting season underway, log prices remain stuck below long run averages. Price rises in China unlikely to bring higher returns. Domestic demand is low and slipping
Declining domestic demand and high stocks in China are depressing log prices. But there are signs Chinese demand is stabilising and Indian demand is expected to rise
1st May 24, 6:14pm
by Scott Downs
Declining domestic demand and high stocks in China are depressing log prices. But there are signs Chinese demand is stabilising and Indian demand is expected to rise
An over-supply of logs to China is depressing prices. Reduced shipping costs and a lower NZD alleviated some of the fall in March, but a substantial retreat is expected in April
3rd Apr 24, 10:39am
by Scott Downs
1
An over-supply of logs to China is depressing prices. Reduced shipping costs and a lower NZD alleviated some of the fall in March, but a substantial retreat is expected in April
Log prices were stable in February. China's reopening after Lunar New Year holiday has been slower than usual. India undergoing transitional changes. Eyes on rising freight rates
1st Mar 24, 12:03pm
by Scott Downs
Log prices were stable in February. China's reopening after Lunar New Year holiday has been slower than usual. India undergoing transitional changes. Eyes on rising freight rates
Log demand is broadly stable in January with local demand holding, demand from China uncertain but certainly not falling, and demand from India showing some upside
31st Jan 24, 11:08am
by Scott Downs
Log demand is broadly stable in January with local demand holding, demand from China uncertain but certainly not falling, and demand from India showing some upside
Extreme cold in China has slowed construction and log offtake. Extreme wet in India has slowed their demand too. Local demand in holiday mode. But despite all that, log prices rose in December
22nd Dec 23, 9:06am
by Scott Downs
1
Extreme cold in China has slowed construction and log offtake. Extreme wet in India has slowed their demand too. Local demand in holiday mode. But despite all that, log prices rose in December
Steady log demand in China where stocks are very low has boosted export log prices. There has also been a post-election boost in domestic demand for sawn timber
1st Dec 23, 2:17pm
by Scott Downs
Steady log demand in China where stocks are very low has boosted export log prices. There has also been a post-election boost in domestic demand for sawn timber
China log inventories low but demand not rising. Local log supply tight as some forest owners stop harvesting. Local demand rises post-election. Europe demand for sawn timber stalls
2nd Nov 23, 11:40am
by Scott Downs
1
China log inventories low but demand not rising. Local log supply tight as some forest owners stop harvesting. Local demand rises post-election. Europe demand for sawn timber stalls
Local demand for logs holding but supply tightening. Despite that prices are softer. China demand for logs almost at normal level but confidence in residential construction not high. Overall log prices stable but with softer expectations
28th Sep 23, 10:24am
by Scott Downs
1
Local demand for logs holding but supply tightening. Despite that prices are softer. China demand for logs almost at normal level but confidence in residential construction not high. Overall log prices stable but with softer expectations
Higher prices from China have improved log returns although shipping costs absorbed some of this. India demand weak. Global pulp inventory levels are at record highs with very low demand
1st Sep 23, 10:39am
by Scott Downs
Higher prices from China have improved log returns although shipping costs absorbed some of this. India demand weak. Global pulp inventory levels are at record highs with very low demand
With a declining local market, and uncertainties in both China and India, the log market is struggling to get out of its recent price retreat. Lower harvest volumes during winter are helping avoid oversupply
1st Aug 23, 10:24am
by Scott Downs
1
With a declining local market, and uncertainties in both China and India, the log market is struggling to get out of its recent price retreat. Lower harvest volumes during winter are helping avoid oversupply
Log harvest volumes are being cut back sharply as both export and domestic demand soften. Prices are falling. Even with cyclone-related closure of some local mills, sawn timber inventories are rising and more cutbacks are coming
1st Jul 23, 10:12am
by Scott Downs
5
Log harvest volumes are being cut back sharply as both export and domestic demand soften. Prices are falling. Even with cyclone-related closure of some local mills, sawn timber inventories are rising and more cutbacks are coming
Export log prices fall as demand in China is not rising as originally expected. Demand in India is uncertain. Domestic demand remains weak as well
26th May 23, 2:45pm
by Scott Downs
1
Export log prices fall as demand in China is not rising as originally expected. Demand in India is uncertain. Domestic demand remains weak as well
Export log prices fall after expected China construction demand didn't rise as anticipated. Indian demand low. Local markets operating well below capacity
1st May 23, 10:06am
by Scott Downs
2
Export log prices fall after expected China construction demand didn't rise as anticipated. Indian demand low. Local markets operating well below capacity
Although there has been a spike in at-wharf prices due to log shortages to fill ordered vessels, demand in both China and India is weak, and domestic demand is weakening fast
28th Mar 23, 9:27am
by Scott Downs
2
Although there has been a spike in at-wharf prices due to log shortages to fill ordered vessels, demand in both China and India is weak, and domestic demand is weakening fast
Export log prices rise as international markets react to 'significantly reduced log supply from New Zealand.' Local demand down sharply as poor weather brings worst decking season
1st Mar 23, 1:33pm
by Scott Downs
Export log prices rise as international markets react to 'significantly reduced log supply from New Zealand.' Local demand down sharply as poor weather brings worst decking season
Export log prices dropped marginally in December as the NZD rose. Demand from China is still expected to lift in 2023 while prices are stable. India remains very uncertain. Local mills are taking longer year-end breaks
24th Dec 22, 10:13am
by Scott Downs
5
Export log prices dropped marginally in December as the NZD rose. Demand from China is still expected to lift in 2023 while prices are stable. India remains very uncertain. Local mills are taking longer year-end breaks
An easing back in high domestic demand, and weakening Chinese markets for logs and sawn timber is bringing slightly lower export returns. Indian demand remains lower too
25th Nov 22, 11:52am
by Scott Downs
1
An easing back in high domestic demand, and weakening Chinese markets for logs and sawn timber is bringing slightly lower export returns. Indian demand remains lower too
Log demand is down in China but reduced supply is maintaining a balance. India subdued. Domestic demand signals stay strong
28th Oct 22, 11:56am
by Scott Downs
1
Log demand is down in China but reduced supply is maintaining a balance. India subdued. Domestic demand signals stay strong
Export log prices rising because shipping costs are falling. Demand may hold due to some special Chinese market factors but that may be temporary. Demand from India remains weak. Local demand generally stable
1st Oct 22, 11:31am
by Scott Downs
Export log prices rising because shipping costs are falling. Demand may hold due to some special Chinese market factors but that may be temporary. Demand from India remains weak. Local demand generally stable