Cheaper engineered softwood products are putting pressure on Australian prices of hardwood and steel products for high strength commercial and residential construction.
Market analyst URS said the price of engineered softwood products had continued to decline up to 5% during the last 12 months and laminated veneer lumber was now available at 2006 prices.
Hardwood flooring and joinery products were generally up in price by as much as 10.5%.
“The downward price movements in engineered wood products will continue to place competitive pressure on solid hardwood and steel products in high strength commercial and residential construction. This is spurred on by increasing imports of engineered wood products from the northern hemisphere,” the report said.
