Fineman predicts green future for hardwood trade

The hardwood trade has a bright but “green” future with timber prices set to continue their upward trend, Timbmet chief executive Simon Fineman told a meeting of the London Hardwood Club on Wednesday.

Mr Fineman forecast hardwood prices to rise, fuelled by consumer affluence and timber’s growing role in the carbon capture economy.

He also said the hardwood product of the future needed to be fit-for-purpose and able to demonstrate performance levels.

The future, he added, would see less selling of packs of sawn hardwood and more engineered timber components and use of plantation grown hardwood.

“I still very clearly believe hardwood has a great future.”

He said the growing influence of the carbon capture market would not stop the production of timber but it would make timber a more precious commodity than it already was.

More on this story will appear in the next issue of TTJ.