Future of timber industry debated

Predictions of what the timber sector might look like in 2016 have been aired at a round table debate in central London attended by leading industry executives.

The event, sponsored by the Medite 2016 Forum in conjunction with TTJ, posed key questions to representatives of the timber importing, tropical wood, construction, educational and marketing sectors.

Coillte Panel Products marketing and business development director Geoff Rhodes said there had “never been a better time” to embrace opportunities and predicted 2016 will be a better place for the industry.

“But we face many challenges and will have to adapt to take the opportunities before us,” he said.

Mark Bowers, trading director of UCM Timber, said access to raw material supply would be a key issue in 2016.

“As far as the UK is concerned we have to appreciate we are more and more in a global market and we have to compete for the fibre, it’s not ours by right,” he said.

Mr Bowers said the fragmented nature of the UK’s timber distribution channels needed rebuilding to maximise timber product benefits and avoid infighting, while clearer presentation of certification was needed for the wider construction industry which was confused about the plethora of schemes.

John Kissock, of the Scottish Forestry & Timber Advisory Group, said the industry needed to spend money on research and innovation, as well as more joint venture between construction companies and timber suppliers to take advantage of the great opportunity in the RMI sector.

James Latham plc chairman Peter Latham predicted 2016 would present a fuller picture of raw material scarcity and timber prices would rise, which was “probably a good thing”.

“Volumes will not be much higher than they are now but we will have to use the materials much better. More prefabrication is going to happen.”

“I think the value of timber is not fully recognised and we are on the cusp of getting that value recognised,” added Timber Trade Fedration chief executive John White.

Marketing consultant Peter Travis said he was sceptical about the future.

He said the pace of innovation and new product development in the construction sector posed a threat to traditional timber supply channels.

A full report on the round table will follow in a later issue of TTJ.