What's happening to consumption of sawnwood?

摘要

Data published by ABARE show that total volume of log removals from Australian forests (excluding firewood) is about 24 million cubic metres. Saw and veneer logs account for 46 percent of the total removals. As Australia is a net importer of sawnwood, sawnwood produced from sawlog removals is in effect consumed in domestic market. The domestic market is therefore of particular interest to growers whose target products include sawnwood. During the 17-year period from 1984-85 to 2000-01, annual apparent consumption of sawnwood averaged 4.4 million cubic metres. However, annual consumption fluctuated between four and five million cubic metres. (The annual consumption is projected to remain within this range in the foreseeable future, according to an ABARE study.) As 70pc of sawnwood is structural timber, fluctuations in sawnwood consumption follow the changes in commencements of construction of new dwellings or overall construction activity.