Australian timber industry news

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than US$8 million for five new projects to reduce wildfire risk, protect water quality, and improve forest health across the nation. Source: Timberbiz The announcement builds on Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L Rollins’ commitment to wildfire preparedness. USDA and its agencies are working together to take action to protect people, communities, and the natural resources on which this country depends. The Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Program is a collaborative effort between USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Forest Service to work across public-private boundaries and at a landscape scale. The US$8 million investment in new projects is in addition to US$32 million for 24 existing three-year-long Joint Chiefs’ projects. The five new projects are: Alabama – National Forests in Alabama “Alabama Chattahoochee Fall Line Restoring Longleaf” Colorado and Wyoming – Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest “Headwaters of the Colorado” Montana – Lolo National Forest “Blackfoot River Valley Landscape Mosaic” North Carolina – National Forests in North Carolina “Uwharries to Sandhills, Phase 2” Oregon – Mt. Hood National Forest “Hood River Wildfire and Watershed Resilience”. “Wildfires have no boundaries, and neither should our prevention work,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “We need everyone at the table to deliver the kind of active management that will return our forests to health and productivity. Joint Chiefs’ puts local leaders in the driver’s seat, enabling cross-boundary work based on shared priorities with states, partners, industry, and forest landowners. It’s a win-win.” NRCS Chief Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt  said that with the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership, NRCS is implementing the Farmer-First mission with the nation’s foresters “Providing technical and financial assistance to private forest landowners is key to supporting locally led conservation, especially in the wildland-urban interface. This allows us to address multiple challenges in one project, such as reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire, protecting clean water, and improving wildlife habitat,” he said.  

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A carbon capture pilot plant came online at Metsä Group’s Rauma mill, where the company is testing the capture of pulp mill flue gases in cooperation with the technology company Andritz, the supplier of the pilot plant.  Source: Timberbiz Carbon capture is an existing technology, but it has not previously been used for pulp mill flue gases. During the autumn of 2025, various operating models will be tested concerning aspects such as energy consumption and the amount of carbon captured. The pilot period will also provide information about the need for flue gas treatment and the quality of the end product. “So far, the technology appears to be working well with the pulp mill’s flue gases,” said Kaija Pehu-Lehtonen, SVP Business Development and the Director of Metsä Group’s carbon capture project. As part of the piloting, Metsä Group will also investigate possibilities for a larger-scale demo plant for carbon capture at the Rauma mill site. The annual capacity of a demo plant would be 30,000 to 100,000 tonnes of captured carbon dioxide. No decision has been made regarding the project or the demo plant’s location. Implementing the project would require all technical and financial issues to be resolved. The larger-scale demo plant would have a capacity more than one hundred times that of the pilot plant, which can capture approximately one tonne of carbon dioxide per day. Bio-based carbon dioxide is a virtually untapped pulp mill side stream. Carbon dioxide can be used as a raw material – for example, in the chemical and fuel industries and it can serve as a replacement for fossil-based raw materials. Carbon capture does not increase wood use at the pulp mill, nor does it undermine production efficiency. “Capture-related investments are large, and the market is underdeveloped, so we’re proceeding gradually. In addition, the value chains from raw material to finished products are often new and complex, requiring close cooperation between the participants and an insight into industrial operations,” said Pehu-Lehtonen. Through its development activities, Metsä Group wants to promote the emergence of markets. However, market development also depends on regulation at the EU and national level, as well as on investment support for the green transition. State aid for the green transition will play a key role in accelerating industrial investment.

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Thanks to Indonesia, global imports of hardwood woodchips to Asia rose over the year-ended June 2025. Of the top five importers, Indonesia and Japan saw growth in hardwood chip imports, while Mainland China, Korea and Taiwan all saw reductions, according to latest analysis by the team at IndustryEdge. Source: IndustryEdge Source: Importing country statistics services and Wood Market Edge online * It is important to note that most countries in Asia report woodchip trade in GMT, while the main recipient countries – China and Japan – report in bone dried metric tonnes (BDMT). IndustryEdge has elected to report the data as presented by each country, in this analysis and in our raw data services. As a rough ‘rule of thumb’, one BDMT can be assumed to be equivalent to two GMT. Patterns of trade in the Asian hardwood woodchip market are continuing to change. In particular, China’s domestic hardwood chip supply is increasing from its very significant plantations. Just as important is the altering and tense market dynamics in the global pulp industry, which drives demand for hardwood woodchips. The role of Indonesia as a satellite producer for Chinese manufacturers, as well as its own growing demand profile and established pulp and paper industry is also altering the hardwood woodchip market, as the details demonstrate. Japan, by contrast, is more stable than China, in many respects. It is useful to consider imports of hardwood woodchips for specific countries, using data available on IndustryEdge’s Wood Market Edge online platform. Indonesia Indonesia’s hardwood woodchip imports lifted a very strong 134%, rising to 3.1 million green metric tonnes (GMT) in FY25. Although Thailand and Australia played small roles in Indonesia’s imports, Vietnam was entirely dominant, delivering more than 93% of hardwood chips for the year. Obviously, Indonesia’s import price is driven by the price of Vietnamese supply and there is little reason to show other prices. The weighted average import price for the year-ended June 2025 was USDCif102.25/GMT, up a modest 1.1% on the prior year. Japan Often the stabiliser in the market, Japan’s hardwood woodchip imports lifted 2.0% year-ended June 2025, rising to 9.2 million BDMT. With greater stability comes an emphasis on quality and pulp yields that sees shipments from Vietnam still dominate (46%) but a combination of Australia, Thailand and Chile providing 35% of total supply. Australia and Chile are producing and delivering eucalypt woodchips which deliver a higher pulp yield than supplies from Vietnam, Thailand and elsewhere in South East Asia. Nowhere is the quality of hardwood woodchips more evident than in country specific pricing. The table below shows weighted average annual import prices for each of the major supplier countries to Japan. Supply from Vietnam and Thailand is more than 20% cheaper than supply from Australia. Producers seeking higher pulp yields, brighter paper and often, lower chemical input costs maintain a steady diet of hardwood woodchips from Australia and Chile. China Although it may lack stability, China makes up for the shortcoming with massive import volumes. Year-ended June 2025, China imported 16.1 million BDMT of hardwood woodchips, down 1.6% on the previous year. Unsurprisingly, Vietnam supplied almost 72% of the total, with Australia a distant second delivering 15.3% of the total. Albeit at a different scale and with less stability than Japan, China’s hardwood woodchip imports are operating to the same dynamic when it comes to quality and yield considerations. That is, the South East Asian supply of mainly Acacia is the baseload, with quality delivered from Australian eucalypts, supplemented with small volumes from Chile. Again, the pricing for imports tells the story of quality, with supply from Vietnam averaging almost 30% cheaper than supply from Australia, on a delivered basis. Some of this difference is freight costs, but much of it is driven by the underlying quality of the plantation eucalypt resource in Australia. Some concluding thoughts In a large and slow-moving market, where harvest to pulp mill can be many months, the dynamics of hardwood woodchip markets are changing rapidly. The pressures on the Chinese economy are having an impact, as are its industrial and geo-political policies. In that context, the rise of Indonesia as a hardwood woodchip importer is all the more important to the global industry, especially the nearby producers like those in Australia’s West. Indonesia’s increasing emphasis on environmental standards, its rapid improvement in living standards and its status as the large Asian country with the youngest population, makes it a likely long term customer of the future. Japan appears to be a stable environment, which compared to the rest of the main market in Asia, is a blessing for importers and producers alike. For more information visit www.industryedge.com.au  

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A 2,200-year-old Huon pine tree ring has returned to its symbolic home at The Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart. Source: Pulse Tasmania The ancient Pearce River Tree Ring, which dates back to before the birth of Christ, is now on public display in the IXL Atrium following negotiations with Sustainable Timber Tasmania. Originally salvaged in 1975 from the Lake Gordon area before it was flooded by the Gordon Dam, the artefact was initially gifted to the Tasmanian Government by IXL Timber. The tree ring features a detailed timeline mapping major world events across more than two millennia onto its growth rings. Ross Boobyer, General Manager of The Henry Jones Art Hotel, said the collaboration celebrates Tasmania’s unique environmental legacy. “We’re proud to partner with Sustainable Timber Tasmania in celebrating Tasmania’s heritage through the story of the Huon pine,” Boobyer said. “This collaboration not only helps preserve this incredible natural legacy but also gives our guests, and the public, a very special opportunity to connect with Tasmania’s natural resources and history, firsthand.” The ancient relic had spent a decade away from public view before the new installation. Suzette Weeding, General Manager of Conservation and Land Management at Sustainable Timber Tasmania, described the art hotel as the ideal venue for the tree ring’s return. “We’re delighted to see the Pearce River Tree Ring showcased in a space that celebrates the connection between art and nature. These special timbers are a strong reminder of Tasmania’s rich natural and cultural heritage,” Ms Weeding said. The Pearce River Tree Ring joins other Huon pine relics at the hotel, including a 750-year-old, 5.6-metre burled log nicknamed ‘Monster’ that was installed earlier this year. Two more ancient specimens, carbon-dated to approximately 14,000 and 32,000 years old, will soon complete the collection.

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Victoria’s Allan Labor Government says it is helping more Victorian families open the door to greener and leafier streets across Melbourne, making their suburbs cooler and better to live in. Source: Timberbiz Minister for the Environment Steve Dimopoulos and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny visited Ardeer South Primary School announced new protections for the tree canopy and $9.5 million to plant 500,000 more trees across Melbourne. Ardeer South Primary School planted over 1,800 plants and trees as part of the More Trees for a Cooler Greener West program – improving air quality, creating more shade and cooling down the school grounds during summer. In addition to the half a million trees planted across Melbourne’s west, the new More Trees in Melbourne program will deliver half a million more trees across Local Government Areas with below-average tree canopy cover and high heat vulnerability. To help support the delivery of more trees where they are needed most, a new tree canopy mapping project will provide up-to-date, high-resolution data on urban tree canopy cover across Melbourne – enabling planning, smarter investment and more effective tracking of progress over time. There will be stronger protections for established trees across the state – a planning permit will be required to remove trees taller than five metres on vacant residential lots.  For lots with an existing house or planning approval for a house a permit will be required for the removal of trees within six metres of the front boundary and 4.5 metres from the rear boundary – all permits to be fast tracked through the 10-day VicSmart process. As part of the consultation process for the Labor Government’s Plan for Victoria, the community highlighted the importance of green spaces, and this feedback has helped shape the Plan’s target to deliver 30 percent tree canopy cover with further protections on industrial and commercial land to be introduced later this year. The More Trees in Melbourne program will be delivered in partnership with local councils and land managers, who will be invited to apply for grant funding next year.

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The Halo project in the heart of Sydney’s CBD has been given a fresh lease on life, as super fund developer Cbus Property joins a venture to develop the 55-storey hybrid timber tower. Source: The Australian Financial Review The involvement of Cbus Property in taking a 50% stake in the site alongside the project’s originator Milligan Group, secures the future for one of the city’s most high-profile but long-challenged developments. When built, it will lay claim to being the world’s tallest such hybrid timber tower. However, the tower project, which has an estimated end value of $1.8 billion, had been struggling to come out of the ground as Milligan Group juggled a heavy debt burden after buying over 70 individual titles on the corner of Hunter and Pitt Streets. That effort created a super-site across a new metro station, giving the developer scope for such a landmark skyscraper. But with its finances stretched and office market valuations falling, Milligan also needed to win support from a capital partner before going ahead with the ambitious development. “This acquisition is a strong reflection of our strategy to secure well-located commercial assets that respond to future customer demand,” Cbus Property’s chief executive Adrian Pozzo, said in a statement on Wednesday. “It supports our portfolio reweighting to Sydney and continues our track record of delivering high-quality developments that capture market uplift through timing and delivery excellence.” The involvement of Cbus Property, the real estate arm of the $105 billion Cbus Super, comes just as the tide is turning for the national office market. Sydney’s CBD has been the first to recover, especially at the top end of the market, where rising business confidence and a return-to-office vibe have encouraged blue-chip corporates to seek new spaces with high levels of amenity. At the same time, high costs have made new projects unfeasible for most developers in the past few years, with the result that new office supply in Sydney’s CBD is forecast to fall well short of its historical average over the next three years. Those factors combined are expected to put a premium on the few new office projects that do come out of the ground. “Halo is widely recognised as an ambitious project that has the potential to redefine sustainability, design and workplace experience in Australia,” Milligan Group’s managing director, James Milligan, said. “Cbus Property’s involvement will ensure the project benefits from the company’s proven track record in delivering complex, large-scale developments in partnership with leading industry participants.” ASX-listed developer Lendlease had previously signed a non-binding agreement to acquire the project for $685 million by the end of last year, but the mooted deal did not proceed. A turning point came for the project earlier this year, when its main lender, Merricks Capital – which was owed more than $500 million – made a bold decision to boost its loan by another $30 million, despite its exposure on Halo having contributed to its first monthly negative return in almost five years. That top-up proved critical, providing further funding for demolition and early works at the site, boosting confidence it would go ahead, and giving Milligan some much-needed breathing room as it looked to bring on board a capital partner. Cbus Property and Milligan are now working with Multiplex to finalise a construction contract, with main works expected to get underway late next year and completion early in 2030. The proposed result will be 42,000 square metres of office and retail space in a tower that has direct access to the new Hunter Street Metro station and is close to Martin Place, Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour.

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The volume of new homes sold (contract-to-build) nationally decreased by 1.2% in August 2025 according to the HIA New Home Sales monthly survey of the largest volume home builders in the five largest states. Source: Timberbiz HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt said that new home sales in the three months to August 2025 were 5.1% higher compared with the previous quarter. “Despite the slight monthly moderation, sales in the three months to August 2025 remain higher than any previous quarter in the last three years,” he said. “This indicates that cuts to the cash rate are leading to a return in home buying activity, albeit very slowly. “Demand for housing continues to increase due to elevated population growth and sustained low levels of unemployment,” he said. “These factors have contributed to an increase in home buying activity, leading to an increase in the price of established homes. “Ongoing competition for a limited stock of established homes available for purchase has seen buyers moving into new home building as an alternative.” Mr Devitt said that the supply side stimulus resulting from the Australian Government’s decision to remove the requirement for mandatory Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance (LMI) for first home buyers, would also boost new home sales. Around a third of all new homes are built by first home buyers and they play an important role in increasing housing supply. “Reducing the barriers to entry for first home buyers will lead to an increase in housing supply, putting downward pressure on prices beyond the short term and increasing rates of homeownership,” Mr Devitt said. This month’s decrease in new home sales nationally was driven by declines across all states except Victoria, where sales increased by 7.1%. The monthly declines were led by Western Australia, with sales decreasing by 7.7%, followed by Queensland (-6.7%), South Australia (-6.0%) and New South Wales (-1.2%).

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NSW Liberal Shadow Minister for the Environment, James Griffin has slammed the State Government for announcing the Great Koala National Park without any concrete details or legislation to back it up. Source: Timberbiz “After two and a half years of delay and inaction, all this Labor Government can produce is a media statement. No legislation, no details, no explanation of funding, and no certainty,” Mr Griffin said. “To make such a significant announcement whilst providing almost no detail is deeply disappointing. It is more than reasonable and fair to ask, why announce something but have no legislation to back it up?” Concerningly, the Minns Labor Government has revealed that the final creation of the proposed park is dependent on the successful registration of a carbon project under the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) Method, which is currently under review by the Federal Government. NSW Premier Chris Minns conceded that while he expects the Federal Government to ‘come through’, this is ultimately a decision outside of his control, stating that the NSW Government will have to look at ways of creating the Great Koala National Park based on the Federal Government’s decision. “There is a total absence of legislation and funding details and a government apparently hedging its bets, and the hopes of conservation groups, on approval from the Federal Government,” Mr Griffin said. “That means the very shape of the legislation, and even whether it proceeds at all, will be determined not in NSW, but in Canberra.” If the Federal Government refuses to provide carbon credits, serious questions arise about how the legislation and plans for the GKNP will change, including whether the proposed boundaries will be altered. Until the Minns Labor Government provides the necessary details and introduces clear legislation to back up this announcement, the NSW Liberals will continue to hold Premier Chris Minns to account. The Former Coalition Government had a proud and strong record on Koala conservation, which included establishing the updated NSW Koala Strategy, which delivered $190 million over five years to support the overarching goal of doubling NSW’s koala numbers by 2050. As part of this, the former NSW Coalition committed: $107.1 million to fund the protection, restoration and improved management of 47,000 hectares of koala habitat, to meet key conservation targets of 22,000 ha of koala habitat protected and 25,000 ha of koala habitat restored by 2026. $19.6 million to fund partnerships across NSW $23.2 million to remove threats, improve health and rehabilitation, and establish a translocation program $43.4 million to fill knowledge gaps and better understand NSW koala populations. Under this Labor Government, those key targets are not being met, with the 2023-24 NSW Koala Strategy Annual Report released in August last month revealing that only 8,353 hectares of koala habitat had been restored. If protecting koalas were genuinely a priority, Chris Minns would have legislated the park immediately and backed the NSW Koala Strategy with real funding. Instead, we’re left with a hollow announcement, no legislation, and a plan that depends on Canberra’s say-so,” Mr Griffin said.

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Clarence Nationals MP Richie Williamson has slammed the Minns Labor Government’s announcement of the 476,000-hectare Great Koala National Park, describing it as “a massive kick in the guts” for regional communities across the Richmond and Clarence valleys and the wider North Coast region. Source: Timberbiz Mr Williamson said the announcement, made on Father’s Day while families were celebrating together, shows how tone-deaf the Government is to the impact this decision will have on forestry workers, their families and local communities. “Across the North Coast around 5,500 people are employed in the forestry industry. This decision puts those livelihoods on the chopping block,” Mr Williamson said. He said that sustainable harvesting would end in the 176,000 hectare footprint and that meant “real jobs in real communities will be lost overnight”. “While Chris Minns has looked after this own job, he has sold out thousands of regional jobs to do a deal with the Greens.” Mr Williamson said the flow-on effects will cripple multiple sectors. “The failure to meet wood supply agreements will impact everyday essentials — no timber means no paper, no power poles, no transport pallets, no wooden frames and nothing to build the homes we desperately need,” Mr Williamson said. “The timber industry has been sustainably managed in NSW for over 150 years. Our State Forests are a thriving environment for koalas and native species. This decision isn’t about protecting koalas — it’s about city-centric politics. “The protection of one of our national icons is obviously paramount, but sadly this announcement is not about the long-term protection of koalas. It is about a political deal with the Greens.” Mr Williamson said the process has been disingenuous and cruel.

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The Crisafulli Government says it is delivering on its election promise to secure supply of enough Queensland timber to build one million homes by 2044. Source: Timberbiz Consultation has closed on the draft Queensland Future Timber Plan (QFTP) which sets out policies to secure the sustainable timber supply needed for the future, while also supporting a sustainable resource, creating jobs, driving advanced manufacturing, and backing regional economies. More than 370 Queenslanders, including industry groups, conservation groups, Indigenous representatives, businesses, landowners and individuals have taken the opportunity to contribute to this landmark 25-year plan that will help shape the future of the forestry and timber industry in Queensland. The Crisafulli Governments says that the timber industry was left without any direction or certainty after 10 years of decline under the former Labor Government, with both the Miles and Palaszczuk Governments promising studies and action plans that were never delivered. Just last year, Labor promised a $200 million Sustainable Timber Industry Framework that was never properly costed or even funded. The Crisafulli Government aims to deliver a better lifestyle through a stronger economy, with the LNP’s Queensland Future Timber Plan on track to be delivered next month. It’s a key component of the broader Primary Industries Prosper 2050 blueprint which sets out to boost Queensland’s primary production output to $30 billion by 2030. The draft 25-year strategy for the forestry and timber industry was developed using a robust process with input from a range of sources. It will be supported by a detailed five-year action plan to set out the initial implementation process. Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said the decade-long decline and lack of certainty for the timber industry is over. “Labor would prefer to see Queensland homes built using imported unsustainable timber or other materials – rather than support our locally sourced hardwood and softwood timber and our world leading industry that employs Queenslanders,” Minister Perrett said. “The Crisafulli Government values the forestry sector; it is sustainable, renewable and necessary to build one million homes over the next two decades. “The timber industry has a major role to play in Queensland’s growth and prosperity and in helping us meet our ambitious goal to boost primary industries value to $30 billion by 2030,” he said. The 28-day consultation was part of an extensive engagement process that will culminate in the release of the final QFTP and the first five-year action plan in late October 2025.

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Turkey is reforesting fire-ravaged areas with carefully selected species to strengthen resistance against future blazes, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said.  Source: Turkey Today “We select resistant species according to the soil structure, climate conditions, and ecosystem of each region,” Mr Yumakli said. “Species such as cypress, ash, carob, plane, sweetgum, oak, and stone pine are planted in five to 10 rows. In this way, resistance against fires is increased around strategic facilities and residential areas.” Speaking to Türkiye daily, Mr Yumakli said the rehabilitation of burned areas is a top priority. “With scientifically based afforestation efforts, the General Directorate of Forestry is giving breath to the future,” he said. “We carry out our work according to the soil structure, climate conditions, and ecosystem characteristics of each region. We carefully select fire-resistant species.” “Through the Project for the Rehabilitation of Burned Areas and the Establishment of Fire-Resistant Forests (YARDOP), different plant species are being used to change the behaviour of fire, reduce its intensity, and prevent its spread,” Mr Yumakli said. Each year, thousands of hectares of forest are destroyed by fires in Türkiye. Izmir, Antalya, Mugla, Bursa, Canakkale, and Balikesir are among the regions most affected in recent years. While efforts to combat fires continue, reforestation is underway in the burned areas. Yumakli also highlighted policies addressing the global climate crisis. “Within the framework of the Agricultural Drought Strategy and Action Plan we prepared for the 2023–2027 period, we aim to ensure sustainable water supply,” he said. “All the agricultural drought risks of our provinces are analyzed at the district level through field observations, as well as data on temperature and precipitation, reservoir occupancy rates in dams built for irrigation purposes, and many other variables, which are also discussed with stakeholders,” he added. Turkey has faced a prolonged drought since March, affecting over 60% of the soil and contributing to thousands of fires this summer. The country also recorded its hottest July in 55 years, the environment ministry said in early August. Temperatures at 66 of Turkey’s 220 weather stations showed an average rise of 1.9 degrees compared with previous years. The country also registered its highest-ever recorded temperature, 50.5 degrees Celsius in late July in Silopi, in the southeast. Weeks of scorching heat were accompanied by wildfires across Türkiye. Fourteen people lost their lives battling blazes in July in the western part of the country. On 8 August, wildfires in the west forced authorities to suspend shipping in the busy Dardanelles Strait and evacuate three villages.  

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Rising uncertainty around US trade policies is emerging as a significant challenge for many economies, including Vietnam, prompting local businesses to adopt long-term, strategic adjustments to preserve their competitive advantage and deepen integration into global supply chains. Source: Voice of Vietnam Wood production, processing, and export is one of Vietnam’s key industries, but it is currently facing a direct impact from trade competition and tariff barriers. Nguyen Chanh Phuong, vice president of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA), notes that in early August 2025, the United States imposed reciprocal duties of 20% on Vietnamese imports, and the figure could rise to 40% if illegal transshipment is detected. By the end of the month, the US also launched an investigation into Vietnam’s wood and furniture imports. “These moves are creating prolonged uncertainty for the wood processing industry,” Phuong says. “Although Vietnam’s wood exports grew by 8% in the first seven months of 2025, the risks remain high. The ability to control domestic raw material supply will be a decisive factor in maintaining Vietnam’s status as a sustainable source in the global market.” Similarly, the textile and garment industry is feeling the pressure. According to Pham Van Viet, vice president of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Garments, Textiles, Embroidery and Knitting (AGTEK), Vietnam’s apparel exports to the US face an average tax rate of 35.2%, including 20% in reciprocal duties which is far higher than competitors like Bangladesh or India. In addition, up to 50% of imported fibres and materials originate from China, making them vulnerable to origin-based tariffs. “Export growth to the US has already slowed, dropping from 9-10% down to just 4-5% in July 2025 alone,” says Viet. In addition to tariff policies, the United States is also ramping up selective protectionist measures. On August 19, the US Department of Commerce announced a list of 407 derivative steel and aluminum products, subject to a 50% tariff, including several strategic items such as wind turbines, mobile cranes, and ships, adding further challenges for Vietnam’s strategic manufacturing sectors. Professor Tran Ngoc Anh, from Indiana University and founder of the Vietnam Innovation Network, points out that US trade barriers are no longer broad-based but instead target specific industries they view as unfair competitors. “This is a new strategy aimed at protecting domestic industries while sending a clear signal to trading partners,” he analyses. According to experts, US trade policy has moved beyond isolated tariff actions to become a broader geopolitical instrument with far-reaching effects across continents. For Vietnam, while export opportunities persist, they now require a significant restructuring of key industries, particularly wood processing and textiles, to stay competitive and compliant with the evolving global trade landscape. For the wood industry, HAWA Vice President Nguyen Chanh Phuong emphasises that despite the shifting policies, the US is the top market and is more stable than others. To mitigate risks, he stresses the need to expand into new export markets, diversify raw material sources, and produce more value-added products that combine wood with materials like fabric, leather, aluminium, or steel, especially in items like sofas or composite furniture. Professor Tran Ngoc Anh suggests that companies explore hybrid models by manufacturing in Vietnam and completing final assembly or packaging in the US. This approach could help balance cost advantages with compliance to political and security expectations in the US market. He also urges businesses to focus on non-strategic product categories to avoid trade conflicts and to ensure transparency and traceability, potentially using technologies like blockchain. Instead of competing solely on cost, companies should build strong Vietnamese brands with unique value propositions.

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To strengthen compliance and streamline the trade of forestry products, the Vanuatu Government has implemented the Forestry Module through its Trade Single Window (TSW). Source: Timberbiz This new module is a major milestone in the ongoing implementation of the Vanuatu Electronic Single Window (VeSW) Project, aimed at simplifying and accelerating international trade processes across the country. Developed in close collaboration with the national project team, the Forestry Module digitizes and automates the application, processing, and issuance of Export Permits for regulated forestry products. The system will be used by the Department of Forestry (DoF), under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Biosecurity (MALFB), and its key stakeholders, including exporters and customs brokers. “This is a critical step forward in modernizing how we manage our forestry exports,” said Mr. Tekon Timothy Tumukon, Director General MALFB. “By integrating the forestry permitting process into the Trade Single Window system, we are enhancing transparency, compliance, and ease of doing business for our exporters.” Prior to this development, the Department of Forestry operated a fully manual permitting system, centralized at its main office in Port Vila, limiting its ability to expand its regulatory oversight to a wider range of forestry products and geographic areas. Additionally, it was challenging for Vanuatu Customs to verify permits at the border before allowing exports. With the introduction of the Forestry Module, the entire permitting process becomes digital and streamlined. The new system enables: Electronic submission and processing of export permit applications Automatic verification of permit status by Vanuatu Customs at points of export Expansion of permit processing to additional DoF offices across the country Improved regulatory oversight of a broader range of forestry products. By implementing this module within the Trade Single Window system, Vanuatu ensures interconnectedness between the Department of Forestry and Customs, strengthening controls on regulated products while reducing administrative burdens on both traders and government officials. The initiative was brought to live with support from the UN Trade and Development as the Single Project Implementing Partner and the Vanuatu Government.

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‘Escalation Sensation’ chronicles the history of the last operational wooden railway escalators in Australia. After 60 years of service, the much-loved wooden ‘Otis’ escalators at Town Hall and Wynyard Stations in New South Wales were retired and replaced in 2017. Source: Timberbiz The NSW Railways first installed escalators for the deep underground stations at Wynyard and Town Hall when they opened in 1932. They were an innovative people-moving technology adopted by Bradfield to bring an ambitious transport plan to Sydney. Escalators proved to be an integral part of the new underground railway system moving large numbers of passengers quickly in peak hours between street, concourse and platforms. Adopting the ‘modern’ escalator was a signal that Sydney was on par with the latest railway technology and design from around the world. Despite metal alternatives being available at the time, replacements in the 1950s were again OTIS wooden tread machines. Once installed, the robust 1950s escalators were well maintained by dedicated railway staff that extended the machine’s working life considerably in two of the busiest stations on the network. Over the years they became a ‘must-see’ for Sydney visitors and a fond experience for regular users. While in operation the escalators moved thousands of Sydney commuters and visitors each day, right up until their retirement in 2017. After rumbling reassuringly for over 60 years, at the end of their working life they were some of the rarest and much-loved escalators in the world. Completed throughout 2017-18, ‘Escalation Sensation’ chronicles the history of the wooden escalators in Town Hall and Wynyard Stations. It also captures lasting memories and the final days of operation prior to their retirement in 2017. A booklet Escalation Sensation traces the introduction and evolution of escalators, and their use into the public transport network in NSW and Australia. It looks at the principals of how escalators work and how they have evolved over time. It then focuses on the much-loved wooden escalators installed at Wynyard and Town Hall Stations from their installation in the 1930s, their replacement in the 1950s and their replacement in 2017. A documentary is also available that has a series of interviews conducted with historians, railway staff and project teams who maintained and upgraded the historic escalators. The documentary captures their perspectives to produce an absorbing narrative, supported by motion graphics, historical images, archival and contemporary footage of the use, maintenance and final days of the wooden escalators. The video is at https://vimeo.com/265110938  

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A Tasmanian woman who went on a bushfire-lighting spree that destroyed 56 hectares of commercial timber plantations has been ordered to pay almost half a million dollars in compensation. Source: Pulse Tasmania Michelle Dawn Frankcombe, 55, forced emergency crews to battle multiple blazes across northern Tasmania in early 2023. She pleaded guilty to nine counts of unlawfully setting fire to vegetation, with her fires stretching from Lower Beulah to Stoodley. The Supreme Court heard her first blaze tore through timber plantations at different stages of growth, owned by forest management company Forico. The fire burned for days and left all damaged timber unsalvageable. Justice Tamara Jago described the $464,000 worth of destroyed plantations as showing “the extent of the fire associated with this charge” when sentencing Frankcombe to 15 months’ home detention. The fires became more frequent through February and March, with Frankcombe lighting blazes on February 25, then on March 4, 5, 6, 10, 15, 23 and 24. Most of the later fires burned only small patches – some as little as 30 square metres of grassland – but one spread across 300 square metres of bushland before firefighters contained it. CCTV captured Frankcombe’s car near several fire locations, while forensic testing of matches found at one scene produced a positive DNA match. When first questioned, she denied involvement and even tried to implicate her adult children. After repeated police interviews, she admitted to lighting some of the fires. “You repeated this dangerous conduct, many times, over a number of weeks,” Justice Jago said. “It is most fortunate that the main of the other fires did not get out of control, but of course it cannot be overlooked that many emergency personnel resources were engaged in ensuring that did not occur.” The court heard Frankcombe’s fire-lighting began after confronting her father about childhood sexual abuse. A forensic psychologist found she used the fires to release intense emotions linked to chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. Frankcombe must pay $464,000 compensation to Forico and serve her sentence under strict electronic monitoring conditions.

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WA’s Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is managing the delivery of the WA Tree Recovery Program, working closely with residents, local governments and the Perth Zoo to replant trees lost from the effects of Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB). Source: Timberbiz To support the replacement of lost trees, $7.2 million in WA Government funding over four years has been made available for replanting initiatives by local governments, residents and the Perth Zoo. The program will provide funding to local governments impacted by PSHB through round 1 of the Local Government Grant Program, which closed on 7 July 2025. Applicants will be advised on the outcome of applications week commencing 8 September 2025. Currently, the WA Tree Recovery Program is offering rebates to residents who buy a tree to replace one lost as a result of PSHB. It’s as easy as One, Two, Tree. West Australian residents impacted by tree loss as a result of Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) can now access a rebate of up to $150 for every tree replanted. PSHB, a tiny beetle that digs deep into the trunks, stems and branches of trees and plants, has been impacting trees across Perth in recent years. The State Government is committed to strengthening Perth’s urban canopy for the future. Eligible Western Australian landowners can now claim up to $150 for every tree removed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) as a result of PSHB. Tree planting establishment items can also be included in this $150 claim. Eligible establishment items include soil, soil improver, fertiliser, mulch, soil wetting agent, tree support stakes and guards and additional eligible trees. Residential rebate program is open to Western Australians who have had a tree removed from their property under DPIRD authorisation due to PSHB. To receive the rebate you must ensure: Your replacement tree’s canopy must reach at least three metres in height when mature. Your replacement tree must not be a box elder maple (Acer negundo), coral tree (Erythrina x sykesii), or a robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia, also known as mop top robinia or black locust). These tree species are extremely susceptible to PSHB and increase the risk of infestation to surrounding trees. You have a photo of the plant label showing the tree’s scientific or common name to submit in your claim. You purchase your tree and any establishment items in one transaction and ensure you get a tax invoice as proof of purchase. You will need a valid tax invoice to claim your rebate. The national biosecurity response to PSHB has transitioned to a management phase following a decision by the National Management Group that it is no longer technically feasible to eradicate the pest. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is leading the transition to management in WA to minimise the impact of shot-hole borer on Perth’s tree canopy and help protect the State’s horticultural industries. Over the next 18 months, DPIRD will work with industry, community and local government partners to build capacity to manage the pest.

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From the forest to finished products, Tasmania’s forest and timber industries came together on Friday night to celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations at the 2025 Tasmanian Timber Awards. Source: Timberbiz Hosted by the Tasmanian Forests and Forest Products Network (TFFPN), the biennial event drew 250 guests to the Tailrace Centre in Launceston to recognise excellence across the sector, from harvesting and forest management to innovation, sustainability, design, safety and tree farming. Deputy Premier Guy Barnett set the tone for the evening, championing the industry with his message that “wood is good – sustainable, recyclable, and the ultimate renewable”. TFFPN Board Director Dr Louise Wallis said the Awards were a proud moment for the industry. “It’s always a great moment to bring everyone together and recognise the diversity cross the forest and timber products sector,” she said. “These awards highlight the breadth of our industry – from growing and managing forests, through to fire management, harvesting, processing, innovation, design and safety. “By coincidence, this year’s outstanding and emerging leaders both came from the transport side of the industry – one through innovative engineering and manufacturing, the other through logistics. What stood out for me was their quiet leadership and generosity, always supporting their peers and helping to lift the whole industry.” Among the winners was Francis Richardson of Orana Enterprises, named Emerging Leader in the Tasmanian Timber Industry for his drive to improve innovation and efficiency in timber transport. Trainee of the Year went to Melody Reihana of Sustainable Timber Tasmania, whose passion and commitment to sustainable forestry have quickly marked her as a future industry leader. The Innovation Award was presented to Sustainable Timber Tasmania and Indicium Dynamics for Fire Foresight, Tasmania’s first end-to-end digital bushfire detection and alerting system. The night’s highest honour was awarded to Graeme Elphinstone of Elphinstone Engineering, who received the Outstanding Contribution to the Tasmanian Timber Industry Award in recognition of more than 50 years of innovation, leadership, and service. A true pioneer, Mr Elphinstone transformed timber transport with designs that set new global benchmarks for safety and efficiency, including Australia’s first on-vehicle weighing system, the folding pole jinker, and the EasySteer suspension system. Equally respected for his commitment to people and place, he kept his operations in Triabunna through industry downturns, safeguarding local jobs and mentoring future generations of timber professionals. Internationally renowned for his engineering achievements, he is admired at home for his integrity, generosity, and lifelong dedication to strengthening both his community and the industry. It was a big week of recognition for Mr Elphinstone, who was also elected to the Shell Rimula National Road Transport Wall of Fame. “Receiving the Outstanding Contribution Award was almost overwhelming. You put in the work over many years without expecting recognition, and then to hear such genuine, positive comments from across the sector is incredibly humbling. This acknowledgement means a great deal,” Mr Elphinstone said. “What I love most is seeing young people come into the sector and make their mark. I often say there are only two reasons you leave us – either you’re not quite where you need to be, or you’re moving on to better yourself. “Watching the next generation take those opportunities and shape the future is what keeps me inspired.” The Awards highlighted not only individual excellence, but the strength, resilience and collaboration that underpins Tasmania’s forest and timber products industries. 2025 Tasmanian Timber Awards Winners Emerging Leader in the Tasmanian Timber Industry Winner: Francis Richardson, Orana Enterprises Excellence in Design and/or Use of Tasmanian Timber Winner: Align Architecture & Interiors, and Saxon Hall Architecture Timber Processing Excellence Winner: Britton Timbers Excellence in Environmental Management Practices Winner: Dydee Mann Forest Growing and Management Excellence Winner: Forico Harvesting Excellence Winner: Midway and their contractors Innovation Award Winner: Sustainable Timber Tasmania & Indicium Dynamics Outstanding Contribution to the Tasmanian Timber Industry Winner: Graeme Elphinstone, Elphinstone Engineering Trainee of the Year Winner: Melody Reihana, Sustainable Timber Tasmania Tree Grower of the Year Winner: Malcolm Larner Workplace Health and Safety Excellence Winner: Forico.

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The Australian Workers’ Union and the Timber, Furnishing & Textiles Union have joined forces to condemn the NSW Government’s announcement to lock up an additional 176,000 hectares of working forest to establish a Great Koala National Park. Source: Timberbiz The unions say the area – some five times larger than the 37,000 hectares recommended by the Government’s own Industry Advisory Panel – will devastate regional communities, cost hundreds of jobs and risk thousands more across the state’s $3 billion hardwood timber industry. AWU NSW Secretary Tony Callinan said the Government’s decision represents a betrayal of working families and regional communities that have sustainably managed these forests for generations. “(Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe) has chosen to ignore the government’s own expert panel’s advice and to bow to an irrational, deep green ideological agenda that will gut regional towns on the NSW mid north coast,” Mr Callinan said. “The Industry Advisory Panel, which the Government itself established, recommended 37,000 hectares as a balanced approach that would protect koalas while preserving jobs. Instead, the Government has gone nearly five times larger, showing complete disregard for the workers and communities who will pay the price for this decision. “The latest CSIRO research shows koala numbers in NSW are stable and thriving. This fundamentally undermines the Government’s justification for such an extreme expansion,” TFTU NSW Secretary Alison Rudman said every timber worker’s pay cheque flowed directly into small regional economies. “When you kill the timber industry, you kill the towns. Businesses close, schools lose students, health services withdraw, and entire communities wither away. We’ve seen it happen before, yet the government seems determined to repeat those mistakes,” he said. “This is political expediency at its worst. The environment minister as the leader of the government in the Upper House has opted for a cynical trade-off over good jobs, good science, and good policy. “The Government’s own consultation process found timber workers in the region earn, on average, twice as much as those in tourism. No family can absorb a 50% pay cut in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, and let’s be clear, there are no real alternative jobs waiting for these workers.” Mr Callinan said the decision was not about being pro or anti koala. “We all want to see koalas thrive. What we’re against is the unnecessary destruction of an entire industry and the communities it supports when there is a science-based option that achieves both conservation and a viable timber industry,” he said “Forestry Corporation has a good track record of managing large areas of public land in NSW, including managing the bush risk. Without a forestry industry we are concerned that that the risk of catastrophic wildfires that kill all wildlife, including koalas will be increased.” While maintaining the decision should be reversed, the unions have presented the NSW Government with a comprehensive package of minimum requirements for any workers displaced by the park’s establishment. “It is lunacy to kill these jobs, but if the government is determined to do so our unions intend to do everything we can to ensure that the displaced workers are compensated fairly and assisted to gain alternate jobs,” Mr Callinan said.

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The announcement of the decision to create a full-size Great Koala National Park on the Mid North Coast of NSW is a missed opportunity to maintain a sustainable timber industry and a stable koala population, according to the Australian Forest Contractors Association. Instead, the AFCA says, one is being decimated while the other is built on little more than hope. Source: Timberbiz After a 14-month assessment process which included seeking input from industry and a further 9 months of delays, the government has settled on the one option with the weakest evidence and the most problems, CEO of the Australian Forest Contractors Association Tim Lester said. For the forest contracting crews the decision means they are being sacked on Father’s Day and with no notice. “The Government spoke to affected sawmills but not forest services businesses which means these employers have had any notice on what tell their staff about coming to work tomorrow,” Mr Lester said. “A temporary moratorium assumes a future return to work. Let’s call it what it is – an immediate closure. In Victoria we experienced the chaos caused by a government that did not give businesses and communities the time they need to adjust. This is spin for a political announcement. “We engaged in the assessment and consultation process in good faith on the basis of the government’s twin election commitments of a koala park and a sustainable timber industry. But the government has accepted ideology over evidence and hope over science. “National parks have a terrible record when it comes to protecting populations of threatened species because hope is not a strategy. We are at risk of repeating the same mistakes. “The greatest irony is that the NSW National Parks’ own research shows the claim that koalas are under threat in this area is wrong. The population of koalas in NSW state forests is high and stable thanks to an active and sustainable forest management regime that has been in place for more than a century. The idea that a sustainable timber industry and rich biodiversity are incompatible is pure ideology and not backed by the scientific evidence or history. “Koalas will not be ok in a forest managed through benign neglect as we have seen in the Pilliga. The tourism sector is already bustling, and the known visitation, travel and spending patterns do not support small communities, as we have seen in southern NSW. The massively increased cost of managing a national park will not improve the NSW Budget bottom line, as we have seen in Victoria. “The government is also relying on damaging the integrity of Australia’s national carbon scheme with a carbon methodology that is scientifically contested and does not meet scheme rules. This shows it is a park at all costs and everything else has been hollow and flawed. “Meanwhile it is the businesses, workers and communities who will suffer. “It is now up to the government to implement a fair and equitable package for industry that provides compensation for the businesses, workers and communities who are having their lives and livelihoods turned upside down by a flawed decision based on a flawed premise.”

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Six timber mills on the NSW mid-north coast will close today, around 300 jobs will be lost and 40% of the state’s future hardwood supply could be locked up for good following the announcement at the weekend of the proposed boundary for the Great Koala National Park. Source: Timberbiz The park will reserve 176,000 hectares of state forest and connect with existing national parks to create a 476,000-hectare reserve – one of the largest in NSW. The government says this park will protect more than 12,000 koalas, 36,000 Greater Gliders and habitat for over 100 other threatened species. “Koalas are at risk of extinction in the wild in NSW – that’s unthinkable. The Great Koala National Park is about turning that around,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said. “We’ve listened carefully and we’re making sure workers, businesses and communities are supported every step of the way.” Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the Great Koala National Park had been a dream for more than a decade. “It will ensure koalas survive into the future so our grandchildren will still be able to see them in the wild. “These amazing old-growth forests are among the world’s top biodiversity hotspots – home to more than 100 threatened species including greater gliders, the powerful owl and yellow-bellied gliders,” she said. The Government has imposed a temporary moratorium effective today, Monday 8 September, on timber harvesting within the proposed park boundary. Department of Primary Industries officials reportedly began calling affected timber mill owners on Friday ahead of today’s moratorium. The immediate temporary moratorium will impact six out of more than 25 timber mills in the region, and approximately 300 jobs. Response has been swift with industry leaders and the unions condemning the decision. Australian Forest Contractors Association Tim Lester said that for the forest contracting crews the decision means they are being sacked on Father’s Day and with no notice. He said the government has settled on the one option with the weakest evidence and the most problems. Forestry Australia president Dr Michelle Freeman said the Great Koala National Park made a headline, not a science-led plan. “Recent research highlights that koala populations in NSW state forests remain high and stable, thanks to thoughtful regulated management,” she said. And the Australian Workers’ Union and the Timber, Furnishing & Textiles Union said the decision would devastate regional communities, cost hundreds of jobs and risk thousands more across the state’s $3 billion hardwood timber industry. The NSW government says it recognises there will be challenges as the transition begins and is committed to working with local communities every step of the way. Assistance includes JobKeeper-style payments to support workers by covering salaries, and also financial assistance towards business operating costs. As well as financial payments to cover salaries, workers and their families will have immediate free access to mental health, financial and legal counselling services and training support. The NSW Government has committed $6 million to support new opportunities for tourism and small businesses on the Mid North Coast, with the package to be developed in consultation with local communities to grow jobs and investment as the Great Koala National Park is established. An additional $60 million in funding is being announced for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to support the establishment of the park. This is in addition to the $80 million announced in 2023. The final creation of the park is dependent on the successful registration of a carbon project under the Improved Native Forest Management Method, which is currently moving through the Federal Government assessment processes. But NSW Australian Forest Products Association chief executive James Jooste said that after two years of consultation the industry was hoping Environment Minister Penny Sharpe would take into account their concerns when announcing the size of the park. “North East NSW is the most valuable region for hardwood production in the state, and a 176,000ha park will cut supply from public forest in half overnight,” he said. The Government says the Great Koala National Park will not end forestry on the North Coast with the Independent Forestry Panel continuing to provide advice to the Government to inform the Forestry Industry Action Plan. NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders told the Daily Telegraph aid the timing of the decision was appalling and would see the livelihoods of entire regional towns “obliterated” overnight. “For thousands of Dads across the North Coast region to be waking up on Father’s Day to the news they no longer have a job is gut wrenching,” he said. “This decision is almost unbelievable but sadly true to form for a government that has shown a complete disregard for this important industry and what it contributes to our state. “Labor’s Great Koala National Park will wipe out 40% of the state’s future hardwood supply and will force the price of construction materials through the roof.”

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