Australia’s consumption of structural timber products surged in 2009-2010, with panels up 2.8%
Australia’s housing sector is providing the basis for robust demand for structural wood products, and consumption of wood based panels rose by 2.8% in 2009-2010, according to a new report from The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics – Bureau of Rural Sciences (ABARE–BRS).
Released in November 2009, ABARE–BRS publication Australian Forest and Wood Products Statistics found that domestic demand for structural timber products increased significantly due to housing demand across Australia, which grew by 25% in 2009-10.
ABARE–BRS executive director, Phillip Glyde said this growth provided support for the domestic sawnwood and wood based panel sectors, “with consumption of wood based panels rising by 2.8% over the year.”
However, the value of Australia’s forest product exports decreased by 3.6% during the same period. Much of the decline was led by continued weak demand for Australian woodchip exports.
