Australian timber industry news

The Coalition is seeking crossbench support to disallow what it describes as Labor’s dodgy carbon credit method. Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said the Improved Native Forest Management method needed to be torn up, because it doesn’t contribute to Australia’s emissions-reduction objectives, and is wrong. Source: Timberbiz “Labor’s INFM method is just another way for Labor to force their net zero agenda on our forestry community, destroying lives and jobs in the process,” Senator Canavan said. “Labor is setting up a scheme to use taxpayer money to pay states to shut down productive native forestry for carbon credits that don’t represent the emissions savings being claimed. “The Coalition does not support the INFM method. That’s why The Coalition will vote to disallow the INFM method, and we call on the crossbench to do the same.” Shadow Minister for Forestry Darren Chester said the method was built around a NSW Government election promise, and it will be paid for by Australian taxpayers while delivering no genuine reduction in emissions. “I represent the Gippsland communities that have lived through the shutdown of native forestry in Victoria, and I know where this road leads,” Mr Chester said. “It leads to mills closed, skilled workers gone, and towns left to pick up the pieces. “This method doesn’t just fail on the science. At a time when Australia is facing a housing crisis, we need more Australian timber, not less. “Locking up entire forest regions for 100 years means less timber to build Australian homes, higher construction costs, and greater reliance on imports from countries with lower environmental standards. “You either use your own timber sustainably, or you use someone else’s. The Nationals will keep fighting to urge the Government to make the right choice.” Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Dan Tehan said around half of credits that New South Wales claim would likely not generate genuine climate credit. “We have long known The INFM doesn’t factor in leakage or harvested wood products, so the true extent of over-crediting could be even more,” Mr Tehan said. The Nationals’ New South Wales Senator Ross Cadell has written to all crossbench Senators, asking for their support. The disallowance motion will be listed on September 15, giving the crossbench the time needed to consider its impact. “We must stop Labor’s latest forestry failure and carbon credit scam,” Senator Cadell said. “This week, we are urging the crossbench to support our disallowance motion. With today being the National Forestry Day in Australia, it is a great opportunity for the crossbench to consider our request.” Australian Forest Products Association acting CEO Richard Hyett has warned over-crediting occurs when a project issues more ACCUs than the actual amount of carbon it has saved or removed from the atmosphere. This occurs under the INFM Method because forest regrowth occurring after timber harvesting is not factored into the carbon calculations, the method relies on new ‘no harvest’ areas being progressively added to a project throughout the 15-year crediting period, and/or the settings for harvesting are incorrect. “Forestry Australia’s careful analysis indicates that the INFM Method contains accounting and modelling choices that cumulatively act to overstate carbon benefits by 40 to 100 per cent,” Mr Hyett said. “This is important, because ACCUs are used to offset real emissions elsewhere in the country. It is critical that we maintain the integrity of the ACCU system and stop methods that do not meet the standards, so we thank the Nationals and all those that have supported the delay to critically analyse this flawed method.”  

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Södra has entered an agreement with the German corporate group Brüning Group under which Brüning Group will acquire parts of Södra’s operations in Denmark, including project sales, interior wood products, and the trading activities within the bioenergy business. Source: Timberbiz The transaction forms part of Södra’s efforts to focus on its core businesses and create a more efficient organisation. Through this change, Södra will be able to further concentrate resources and expertise on its different business areas while continuing to develop its offering in the Danish market. At the same time, Brüning Group will have the opportunity to further develop the operations included in the agreement. Completion of the transaction is expected by the end of September 2026. “The transaction strengthens our ability to focus on the areas where we see the greatest potential going forward. At the same time, our ambition is to ensure a smooth transition for customers, business partners and employees. We will continue to maintain a strong presence in the Danish market,” said Johannes Bogren, Executive Vice President, Södra Bioproducts. He emphasises that the transaction does not mean Södra is leaving Denmark. Rather, the business is being adapted to create better conditions for continued growth and development across the Group’s business areas. “Denmark is an important market for us, and we see strong opportunities to continue developing our business there. This change enables us to focus our resources while ensuring that customers and business partners continue to benefit from a strong product offering from Södra,” Mr Bogren said. Denmark remains an important market for Södra Group´s different business areas. Through Södra Wood, the company will continue to supply structural timber and pressure-treated timber products, while Södra Building Systems will continue to offer cross-laminated timber (CLT) and Södra Bioproducts will continue to develop its bioenergy and biochemicals business in Denmark, with sales and customer relations coordinated from Sweden. Brüning Group is an established player in the trading and distribution of wood and bioenergy-related products. Södra views the acquisition positively and welcomes the fact that the operations will be taken forward by an owner with extensive experience and expertise in the relevant market segments.

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Forests are among the planet’s most important natural resources, storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, and supplying everything from timber to clean water. Source: Visual Capitalist This graphic ranks the 15 countries with the most forest in 2025, from Russia’s vast boreal forests to the tropical forests of South America and Central Africa. The data comes from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Russia ranks first with 833 million hectares of forest, about 70% more than second-ranked Brazil and equal to roughly one-fifth of the global total. Canada ranks third with 369 million hectares, followed by the US at 309 million and China at 227 million hectares. Russia’s vast forest area is closely tied to its geography. Much of it stretches across Siberia, part of the enormous boreal forest belt spanning the northern reaches of the planet. Together, the 15 countries in this ranking account for nearly three-quarters of the world’s forest area. The Americas are especially prominent, with eight countries making the list: Brazil, Canada, the US, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, and Venezuela. The top five countries, Russia, Brazil, Canada, the US and China, account for more than half of global forest area. Forest area matters for more than timber, biodiversity, and carbon storage. In the US, which ranks fourth globally, forests also play an outsized role in the country’s water supply. Overall, forests generate about 46% of the surface water supply in the contiguous US. By capturing precipitation, filtering water, and feeding rivers and reservoirs, forests directly support water supplies that millions of Americans rely on every day.

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The forestry industry in the southwest of France is preparing for a large-scale timber harvest of wood damaged by the July fires. Sources: Forest Brief  and Le Monde According to preliminary estimates from local authorities, the fires in the Gironde department affected 39–41 thousand hectares of maritime pine plantations, which corresponds to approximately 3.5 million m³ of timber. This is nearly two-thirds of the usual annual timber production in the Landes de Gascogne forest region, which encompasses the territories of Gironde and Landes. This was reported by Le Monde, citing data from the local prefecture. Additionally, a fire near Biscarrosse damaged approximately 210 thousand m³ of timber. Thus, the potential volume of timber that the French sector will need to urgently assess, harvest, and process after the two fires approaches 3.7 million m³. The fire in Gironde, which started on July 22, was localized by the end of the month. However, foresters currently do not have full access to the most affected areas. The ground in parts of the forest remains hot, and smoldering can resume after machinery passes through. According to French experts, full-scale work in certain areas will likely have to wait for the autumn rains. Once the forests are opened, actual salvage logging — sanitary harvesting of damaged trees will begin. The main task is to extract the timber as quickly as possible while it still retains industrial value, before the development of fungal infections and the spread of bark beetles. The degree of damage to the plantations varies widely. In some areas, the fire passed through the tops of the trees and completely destroyed the needles. In other places, the underbrush burned primarily, while the trunks of the maritime pine remained relatively unscathed. That is why the timber can be directed to different segments. The most damaged material can be used for: fuel pellets; energy wood. Higher quality timber may potentially be used for: pallets; the pulp and paper industry; plywood; beams and other sawn timber.   According to Le Monde, depending on the degree of damage and end use, the price of such pine can range approximately from €10 to over €50 per m³. The scale of the problem is best seen when compared to the normal volume of work in the local forestry industry. The damaged 3.5 million m³ in Gironde corresponds to nearly two-thirds of the timber that the Landes de Gascogne region typically produces over an entire year. This means that the sector potentially has to accept a volume that, under normal conditions, constitutes a significant portion of the annual raw material flow in a relatively short time. This is where the main economic risk arises. The mass influx of damaged timber is capable of creating serious pressure on the local market. It’s not just about a possible drop in prices. Physical constraints arise: the capacity of logging machinery; the amount of available transport; storage capabilities; the capacity of sawmills; the capacities of manufacturers of boards, paper, pallets, and biofuels.   Therefore, even if a significant portion of the timber retains industrial value, the sector has limited time to realize it. Le Monde notes that local market participants are already preparing for a significant influx of raw materials and potential price pressure. The forestry sector in the southwest of France enters this period already weakened. In addition to the fires, the region has recently faced the consequences of storms, issues with the pine nematode, and high fuel costs. This further complicates the economics of quickly harvesting and transporting millions of cubic meters of timber. Another feature of Landes de Gascogne is the ownership structure. According to Le Monde, about 89% of the forest land in the region is owned by private owners. This means that the process of recovering and marketing the damaged timber will require coordination among a large number of owners, logging companies, and processors. The French authorities have already recognized the situation as a natural disaster, which should simplify some administrative procedures and open access to financial support for harvesting and restoring forests. This is not the first major blow for the region. The fires of 2022 also caused significant damage to the forests of Gironde and Landes and created a large volume of emergency timber. The current situation is yet another test for the model of intensive maritime pine cultivation, on which a significant part of the forestry economy in the southwest of France is built. The fire has also reignited the discussion about broader firebreaks, the structure of plantations, and the overall adaptation of the region’s forestry to the increasing fire risk. For the European timber market, this situation is significant not only because of the scale of the fire itself. 3.5 million m³ of damaged pine in Gironde and another approximately 210 thousand m³ in the Biscarrosse area — this is potentially a very large additional flow of coniferous raw material. However, it will not appear on the market all at once. The pace of harvesting will be determined by access to the damaged forests, the condition of the timber, logistics capabilities, and the ability of French enterprises to absorb additional volumes. That is why the main question in the coming months will be not only how much timber can be salvaged, but also how quickly the French market can absorb it without a sharp drop in prices. For other European conifer producers, this may also be significant: a substantial volume of cheaper salvage timber could potentially impact regional raw material flows, the production of pallets, boards, pulp, and biofuels. The scale of this impact will become clearer after the full-scale autumn harvesting begins.

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Snow gums are the iconic vegetation species of the Australian High country. They are beautiful, vital for biodiversity and tourism, help hold snow pack which is released into river catchments, and hold deep cultural value for many people. Source: Timberbiz However, we are now seeing the beginning of ecosystem collapse across these forests – drought, dieback and successive fires have altered the structure, composition, and condition of snow gum woodlands dramatically. During August 2026 resort and mountain loving communities were invited to join Friends of the Earth for a couple of hours of citizen science to better understand the health of local snow gum forests. ARV is inviting resort communities to join in on these surveys that are taking place across Baw Baw, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Mt Buller and Mt Stirling throughout August. These surveys will be happening as part of a process to gather data about the health of snow gum forests and will be used to assist in gaining threatened species listing under federal environmental laws.

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Imagine a barren stretch of land in the middle of New Zealand’s North Island. Very little grows there. Farmers tried for decades and failed, since a mineral deficiency in the soil kept killing their cattle. Source: The Times of India To make the land productive, the government tried something unusual: it sent prisoners, and later thousands of unemployed men, to plant trees there. As Michael Roche, a historical geographer, explained in the study, ‘The New Zealand timber economy, 1840–1935,’ this unusual experiment eventually produced Kaingaroa Forest, which is now the largest planted forest in New Zealand and the second largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The Kaingaroa Forest sits in the Bay of Plenty region, located between Taupo and Rotorua. The area is covered with pumice, a light volcanic rock formed after a massive eruption about 1,800 years ago. Even though it looked like fertile ground, the soil was not suitable for healthy cattle grazing. For many years, no one knew why the livestock kept falling ill and dying. It was later discovered that the soil lacked cobalt, a trace element essential for survival. The Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand notes that the government eventually gave up on farming these plains and turned to forestry instead, hoping trees would succeed where sheep and cattle had failed. The first trees at Kaingaroa were not planted by paid workers, but by prisoners. From the early 1900s, New Zealand ran special “tree-planting prisons,” and men from the nearby Waiotapu prison dug holes and set seedlings across the pumice plain. In his research on 1920s plantation forestry titled ‘(Re)Interpreting Exotic Plantation Forestry in 1920s New Zealand,’ Roche explains that these early prison plantations acted as a large-scale trial, proving that exotic trees could survive on land everyone had written off. It was hard, thankless work, but it laid the groundwork for everything that followed. The tree that made the whole project a success was not even a native of New Zealand. Pinus radiata, also called the Monterey pine, comes from a small stretch of the California coast. It had been introduced into New Zealand since the 1850s but was not valued for its timber properties. It turned out to be the right tree for the job: it grew fast, produced abundant seed, and tolerated poor soils such as pumice. With no enemies in New Zealand, it grew faster than in California. New Zealand set up a proper Forestry Department in 1919, and planting increased rapidly shortly thereafter. In 1926, the government began sending unemployed men to Kaingaroa for paid work. However, the Great Depression came along, and the scheme became far larger than before. The Te Ara Encyclopedia records that more than 1,500 men were, at times, working on these unemployment relief schemes through the early 1930s, many with no forestry experience, in tough, muddy, freezing conditions. The results were dramatic. By 1935, according to the encyclopedia, Kaingaroa State Forest alone had grown to roughly 104,873 hectares, planted almost entirely by hand. A plain that had defeated previous generations of farmers was eventually lined with pine trees. The afforestation spree never really stopped. Today, Kaingaroa Forest covers 205,000 hectares, and some of its sections are in the middle of their fourth tree planting cycle. In 2009, the land was ceded to the indigenous Māori tribes as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement, but the trees continue to be managed by Kaingaroa Timberlands. Kaingaroa Forest supplies over 4.5 million cubic meters of logs annually. More than 65 per cent of the harvest is used locally for construction timber, posts, poles and packaging, while the lower-quality logs are exported through the Port of Tauranga. In an era marked by climate change anxiety and curiosity about how environmental restoration on a large scale might occur, Kaingaroa offers a good example. It indicates that severely damaged land can be restored through patience and persistence in the right conditions. It also carries an uncomfortable side, built partly on prison labour and land taken from Māori communities. Kaingaroa remains a reminder of a century shaped by unemployed workers, prisoners, and one adaptable Californian tree.

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A new series of machine-assisted felling training videos has been released by Wairarapa-based Farman Turkington Forestry Ltd (FTFL) in partnership with Safetree and Competenz, giving forestry workers practical guidance on carrying out this high-risk work safely. Source: Timberbiz Machine-assisted felling is typically used when a tree needs to be felled against its natural lean or where obstacles such as buildings, fences, power lines or waterways mean greater control over the tree’s direction of fall is needed. The five videos are presented by registered forestry trainer, assessor and safety auditor Jason (Jay) Hemopo of Manaia Tu Ltd, who is also a Safetree auditor. Together, they provide detailed, step-by-step guidance on planning and carrying out machine-assisted felling safely. The series includes: An Introduction to machine-assisted felling: Covering when machine-assisted felling is appropriate, site assessments, communications, felling plans, escape routes and the importance of reassessing conditions throughout the day. Grapple Digger Push: Demonstrating how to use a grapple digger to assist with felling safely. Grapple Digger Pull: Showing how an excavator grapple can be used to pull over a tree when pulling provides greater control. Winch Pull: Covering the safe use of ground-based winch machines and cable haulers. Behind the Training: Featuring FTFL managing director Guy Farman explaining the background to the project and the lessons learned.   All five videos are available on the Safetree website. The training resources were developed following the death of machine-assisted feller Steven Whare in January 2021. Mr Whare was killed while working on a difficult macrocarpa shelterbelt when he was struck by a broken branch from a neighbouring tree. Following investigations into the incident, FTFL entered into a court-approved enforceable undertaking with WorkSafe. The undertaking required the company to undertake activities aimed at raising awareness of both the incident and the risks associated with machine-assisted felling. The company was also required to assist in improving relevant unit standards and guidance material to reflect lessons learned from the fatality. The new video series forms part of that work. The videos are intended to help establish a clear baseline for safe practice across the industry. FTFL has also changed the way it pays workers carrying out machine-assisted felling, moving them onto an hourly rate to take away production pressure. Safetree chief executive Joe Akari, who helped facilitate the enforceable undertaking requirements, says the videos are an important contribution to improving safety across the forestry sector. “There are no upsides to a fatality, and in circumstances like these, the industry owes it to the individual involved, their family, colleagues, community and the wider forestry sector, to take all the learnings it can from such a devastating event. I think these videos help to do that.” https://www.safetree.nz/resources/machine-assisted-felling

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Students from Rushworth P-12 College recently marked the end of their Youth Takeover project, Respecting Our Forest. Students celebrated the results of their eight-week collaboration with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Forest Fire Management, at a launch event. Source: Timberbiz The Youth Takeover program was delivered through a partnership between Rushworth P-12 College, Campaspe Cohuna Local Learning and Employment Network and DEECA Forest Fire Management. “Through partnerships with local industry, students have the opportunity to experience real workplaces, solve authentic challenges and develop the skills, confidence and connections that will support them well beyond school,” CCLLEN project co-ordinator Cath Elms said. Led by DEECA Forest Fire Management representative Terence Roberts, the project immersed students in forest and fire management, giving them insight into the environmental, cultural and community importance of Victoria’s forests. Students worked alongside industry professionals to explore the role of planned burning, biodiversity, cultural values and bushfire preparedness, while also gaining an understanding of the work being undertaken in their region and explore the diverse career opportunities available within the industry. For the students involved, the project offered a fresh perspective on learning. “It was fun and eye-opening,” Year 12 vocational major student Hayley Marshall said. “It allowed us to develop new and previous skills like teamwork. We all had to work together.” The launch event was well attended by school and community leaders, including Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell, alongside representatives from DEECA, CCLLEN, and the Department of Education.

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The New Zealand Forest Growers Levy Trust (FGLT) application process for 2027 funding will take place in September this year as an open call, consistent with previous years. Source: Timberbiz Applicants will have from 1 – 30 September 2026 to prepare and submit their funding applications online. Any individual, organisation or business with a project or initiative that stands to directly benefit New Zealand’s forest growing sector can apply for funding. Funding eligibility Any individual, organisation or business with a project or initiative that stands to directly benefit New Zealand’s forest growing sector can apply for funding for the 2027 calendar year. Projects must demonstrate a clear and direct benefit to New Zealand’s forest growing sector Information submitted to the FGLT must be accurate, true and complete to the best of the applicant’s knowledge at the time of applying for funding Applications are to be submitted online, according to the FGLT’s instructions, by 5pm, Wednesday 30 September, 2026. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be eligible for funding.   Only applications submitted through the online form are eligible for funding. An ‘Application Worksheet’ – an exact copy of the online form in a word document format – will be made available online in August so that applicants can prepare for the questions required to be answered. It’s not a requirement to complete this worksheet but applicants are encouraged to make use of it to help prepare their responses offline, ahead of time. When you’re ready, copy your responses from the worksheet into the online application form using the link provided on this webpage. The online application form has a ‘Save and continue later’ function allowing applicants to come back to, and complete, the form later. If using this feature, a link will be sent to the email you provided in the ‘Contact information’ section. Click on the link in the email to resume your application. If completing the form over multiple sessions, use the original email and link to access your application again. All applicants must submit their proposals to the FGLT using the online form by the Wednesday 30 September 2026 deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered for funding. More information at: https://fgr.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/FGLT-2027-Request-for-proposals_Research-funding_August-2026.pdf https://fglt.org.nz/work-programme/funding-process

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Responsible Wood has extended nominations for the 2026 Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award to Friday, 28 August. Source: Timberbiz The annual award recognises an individual who has demonstrated leadership, innovation and commitment to sustainable forest management or Chain of Custody certification under the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme. The online nomination form takes just minutes to complete, but the recognition lasts a lifetime. In 2025, the Award was presented to Shona Heading for her outstanding leadership and contribution to sustainable forest management and the promotion of certified Australian timber through the Australian Araucaria campaign. Established in 2015, the Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award honours the late Richard Stanton, a pioneer in sustainable forestry both in Australia and internationally. Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries encouraged the forestry and forest products sector to nominate individuals whose work deserves greater recognition. “Many across our industry are making an important contribution to responsible forestry and certified supply chains,” Mr Dorries said. “This award is an opportunity to recognise those who lead by example, bring people together and support the integrity of sustainable forest management and sustainably sourced materials.” The recipient will receive a $2,000 bursary to support their professional development, such as conference attendance or a course of their choice. Nominations now close Friday, 28 August 2026. Learn more https://www.responsiblewood.org.au/what-we-do/our-collective-impact/richard-stanton-memorial-leadership-award/ or Nominate online https://form.typeform.com/to/O2RpQD6B

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The National statement on First Nations in agriculture, fisheries and forestry, which provides a blueprint for greater self-determined participation, leadership and economic inclusion, has been released. Source: Timberbiz The statement was developed collaboratively by Australian, state and territory governments in consultation with First Nations peoples and industry stakeholders. It brings together different knowledge systems, perspectives, and experiences to help build a stronger, more resilient and sustainable sector for all Australians. The National statement recognises the contribution of First Nations peoples and outlines a long-term framework, with six priority areas to guide future collaboration and action including; leadership and workforce, finance and business support, knowledge-sharing and safeguards, Indigenous Estate, trade and market access, and government coordination.   Combined, these priorities aim to support increased self-determined participation and economic opportunities. The National statement closely aligns with broader national priorities including the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the First Nations Economic Partnership. Through this alignment, the statement aims to create opportunities for future collaboration across governments, industry and First Nations stakeholders, with progress reported annually to Agriculture Ministers for at least five years. “By bringing together traditional knowledge systems, perspectives and experiences, we can help build a stronger, more resilient and sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector for the benefit of all Australians,” Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said. “This Statement sets out a shared vision for supporting greater First Nations participation and economic opportunities, while recognising the importance of self-determination and genuine partnership. “I look forward to continuing to work with my state and territory colleagues to support greater First Nations participation and economic inclusion across our agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors.” For more information and to read the National statement visit: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/about/commitment/first-nations-aust-ag-fish-forestry/national-statement

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Stora Enso is planning to centralise pine timber sawing from its Veitsiluoto sawmill in Kemi, Finland, to the company’s other sawmills in Northern Finland, particularly Oulu and Kalajoki. Source: Timberbiz The planned change is part of Stora Enso’s ongoing efforts to improve efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness in line with its strategy. If implemented, the plan would result in the permanent closure of the Veitsiluoto sawmill. Stora Enso Veitsiluoto Oy and Stora Enso Oyj will initiate change negotiations concerning the planned permanent discontinuation of production at the Veitsiluoto sawmill. The negotiations cover all employees at the sawmill, approximately 60 people, and are expected to last three weeks. According to the current plan, the sawmill would not restart production in October 2026 after the ongoing temporary curtailment. No decisions on the planned closure or possible personnel reductions will be made before the negotiations have been concluded. “In recent years, Stora Enso has expanded its sawmilling operations in northern Finland to deliver high-quality sawn goods for demanding applications, complementing our expanding high-quality board production. “However, Veitsiluoto has operated for over 100 years, and continuing production there would require significant investments. At the same time, our modern Oulu sawmill is ramping up. We are committed to conducting the negotiations in a responsible and constructive manner and supporting our personnel throughout the process,” said Matti Lielahti, Head of Stora Enso Business Unit Oulu. Stora Enso Business Unit Oulu employs approximately 900 people across its board mill, port operations and sawmill in Oulu, and its sawmills in Veitsiluoto, Oulainen and Kalajoki. If implemented, the planned closure would only have a minor impact on the business unit’s wood consumption.

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Metsä is investing in a new production line for Muoto food packaging in Äänekoski, Finland. As for Metsä’s other innovation projects, the development of the lignin product and carbon capture is continuing as planned, but the conditions for the Kuura textile fibre project are estimated to have changed significantly due to the global market situation. Source: Timberbiz Investment in Metsa’s Kuura textile fibre mill will not proceed. In the target market for Kuura textile fibres – that is, man-made cellulosic fibres – significant global overproduction has emerged in a short period, which has undermined the competitiveness of high-quality and responsibly manufactured fibres. The greatest change has taken place in Asia, where significant new capacity has emerged in recent years. Currently, too few customers are willing to pay a premium for responsibly produced materials. Due to the market changes, the investment in the Kuura textile fibre mill in Kemi, Finland, will not proceed. The Kuura project is not estimated to have the prerequisites to continue in its current form. However, the expertise developed in the field of textile fibres is valuable, and the company is exploring options for utilising it. Developed by Metsä, Muoto is a fibre-based packaging solution produced from Metsä’s own wood fibres. The products can be shaped to meet a variety of customer needs. “We’ve developed a competitive product and production concept for Muoto packaging that responds to the growing demand for fossil-free packaging solutions. Muoto supports Metsä’s ambition to develop new packaging innovations in collaboration with companies in the packaging value chain,” said Niklas von Weymarn, CEO of the innovation company Metsä Spring. Muoto products are made directly from wet wood pulp, without any intermediate steps. Muoto combines stiffness and functionality with a light weight, making it suitable for applications such as demanding serving and food packaging. “There’s a strong market trend to find alternatives to plastic in certain product groups, which opens a significant market niche for the Muoto business. Muoto products also meet the strict requirements of the EU’s recent Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. Legislation is expected to give a boost to the product’s chances of success,” von Weymarn said. The new Muoto fibre packaging production line will be located within the Metsä mill site in Äänekoski, next to the existing Muoto demo plant, and it will start up in 2028. The investment will be made in Äänekoski instead of Rauma, as previously planned, based on the infrastructure of the mill site, the existing production line and the costs of the investment. The value of the investment is approximately EUR 25 million, and the nominal capacity of the production line will be more than 100 million products per year.  

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Wood is widely regarded as the building material of the future. But turning renewable raw materials into high-rises that can genuinely bear structural loads takes more than good timber. It takes adhesives that deliver on what architecture promises. Source: Timberbiz In the Medienhafen district of Düsseldorf, Germany there is a building that speaks a different language: The Cradle is an office building with a striking façade of timber diamond shapes, where wood is not just decoration but structure. Framework. And right at its heart, invisible yet indispensable: adhesive – “the unsung hero,” as Marcel Blodau calls it. Mr Blodau works in product development at Henkel Adhesive Technologies, focusing on Engineered Wood, structural timber construction. “We’re not talking about chairs or tables. We’re talking about structures that carry loads: walls, ceilings, high-rises,” he said, explaining why the right adhesive is so critical: in cross laminated timber (CLT), layers of wood are stacked at 90-degree angles and bonded with adhesive. Cross-bonded layers compensate for the natural weak points of timber and achieve strengths comparable to concrete and steel. “That is only possible through the combination of adhesive and wood,“ Mr Blodau said. Mr Blodau has been part of the team since 2020. While the market has long been dominated by melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) adhesives, Henkel focuses on polyurethane, a technology that contains no water and no solvents and can be processed at room temperature. “Polyurethane in structural timber construction is a comparatively young technology. We are at the beginning of a shift from concrete to more sustainable wood as building material – and that is exactly what makes it so exciting,” Mr Blodau said. What sets timber construction apart from steel and concrete is not just the material itself. It is the way buildings can be constructed. Timber components are manufactured in climate-controlled facilities, year-round, regardless of weather. When concrete cannot cure in winter, a conventional construction site comes to a standstill. In mass timber construction, production continues. “A finished wall element arrives on site and just needs the door fitted,” Mr Blodau said. That means shorter, more reliable build times and fewer trucks on the road. Claudia Meckel, who leads global product development for structural timber construction at Henkel, sees a further advantage. “Construction teams can prefabricate in a heated factory instead of standing on a building site in freezing temperatures. That is better for the workforce, for build quality and for planning reliability alike,” she said. There is a personal dimension to it as well: the prepolymer on which Henkel’s timber adhesives are based – the chemical building block that gives the adhesive its bonding properties was developed by her father, a chemist who spent many years in fundamental research. “It is wonderful to see what has come out of so much research and development work,” she said. Henkel’s ambition does not stop at the laboratory. The assembly time/press time ratio – the relationship between how long an adhesive remains workable and how long it needs under pressure to cure – shows how far product development reaches: directly into customers’ production processes. “If the adhesive has a long open time but a short press time, that increases the output of the entire production line,” Ms Meckel said. There is one question that comes to mind immediately: Don’t timber buildings burn far more quickly? Ms Meckel shakes her head. Steel softens under extreme heat and loses its structural integrity. Timber, by contrast, chars on the outside, forming a protective layer while retaining its load-bearing capacity in the core for a long time. For tall buildings, adhesives are needed that actively support this behaviour. In a fire, an adhesive must not melt. If it does, the char layer falls away, fresh wood is exposed and the fire gains strength again. “Using phosphorus compounds, the adhesive forms a stable char layer,” Ms Meckel said. “This allows timber structures to remain stable, enables safe evacuation and is a key enabler for high rise timber construction.” Henkel’s position as a pioneer in this field is clear from the fact that its internal research division began working on the topic as early as 2017 and long before EUROCODE 5: The European standard that for the first time sets binding fire protection requirements for adhesives in structural timber construction. “The goal was clear: develop adhesives that make it possible to build tall buildings from wood,” Mr Blodau said. Henkel is the only supplier worldwide offering a fire-retardant polyurethane adhesive, LOCTITE HB X, that meets both European and American certification standards. Building on this success, Henkel introduced the new fire-retardant LOCTITE HB XE product line in 2025. The new generation adhesive delivers outstanding performance in meeting the latest EUROCODE 5 requirements while also offering enhanced processing and application properties for customers. Sustainability in timber construction operates on several levels: CO₂, recycling, health, certification. The visible dimension: Wood stores CO₂ and replaces energy-intensive concrete. The less obvious one: the bonding agents themselves. But Henkel goes a step further. The answer is mass balance – a certified accounting method that tracks the share of sustainable raw materials through the production chain and it starts with used cooking oil. Used cooking oil is processed into bio-naphtha, which is fed together with conventional naphtha, into the start of the chemical production chain. Through a certified mass-balance accounting system, the improved CO₂ footprint can be documented and passed along the entire supply chain as a certificate. The result: the LOCTITE HB S ECO line – the first polyurethane adhesive for structural timber construction certified under ISCC Plus, an internationally recognized sustainability standard. “With this, we can reduce the CO₂ footprint per kilogram of adhesive by up to 60 per cent,” Ms Meckel said. Mr Blodau said that Henkel is currently the only supplier in the polyurethane space with this certification. Jeanine Wojciechowski has been responsible for Henkel’s European business in structural timber construction since September 2025. And is still captivated by what she sees every day. “Every time I walk into the production facility, […]

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Prescribed burning is the only landscape scale tool capable of reducing fuel loads, simplifying fuel structure, breaking fuel continuity and moderating dangerous fire behaviour across Australian forests. Source:  John O’Donnell As noted in the attached review, prescribed burning is the only landscape scale tool capable of reducing fuel loads, simplifying fuel structure, breaking fuel continuity and moderating dangerous fire behaviour across Australian forests. Decades of scientific and operational evidence, from McArthur (1962) to Burrows et al. (2023), demonstrate that fuel quantity, fuel structure and fuel continuity are the dominant drivers of fire intensity, severity, rate of spread and spotting. Weather and topography matter, but only fuel can be modified at scale. The impacts of intense, severe and long duration bushfires across south eastern Australia are enormous, spanning 32 impact areas and affecting communities, ecosystems, water supplies, infrastructure and national resilience. The combined impacts across SE Australia are huge, especially considering intense and severe bushfires. With severe fires becoming more frequent, fuel management has become a critical national priority. The full review is attached here. Fuel layers, understanding how fires actually spread A central insight of the review is that prescribed burning directly modifies the fuel layers that govern fire behaviour. Cheney’s (2026 a per. comm) fuel layer framework shows that dry eucalypt forests contain six distinct layers, including canopy, intermediate, elevated, near surface, surface and duff, each contributing differently to flame development, vertical progression and spotting.  Cheney observes that “the structure of the vegetation in a dry eucalypt forest can be identified in 6 layers of different density” and that the near surface layer “is the first to dry after rain and always burns.” This layered understanding clarifies why prescribed burning is uniquely effective: it reduces the fine fuels that dominate rate of spread, removes ladder fuels that enable crown fire and chars bark fuels that drive spotting. Relative Fire Hazard and risk Relative Fire Hazard (RFH) analysis highlights the enormous differences in hazard between fuel types. Cheney (2026 b pers comm) shows that under very high fire danger, “a fire in a wet forest is 3000 times more hazardous than an eaten out or fine one year old pasture.” These hazard ratios incorporate both intensity and burnout time, the latter being crucial because long combustion periods drive soil heating, tree mortality and deep duff ignition. RFH demonstrates that fuel structure, fuel mass and combustion duration, not weather alone, govern the destructive potential of bushfires. Fuel load reduction, the cornerstone of bushfire mitigation Fuel load reduction is a major benefit of prescribed burning. Fine fuels accumulate rapidly after fire, and without regular mild burning they reach levels that support high intensity, fast moving and uncontrollable bushfires. Prescribed burning reduces surface litter, near surface fuels, elevated fine fuels, bark fuels, understorey shrubs, and parts of the duff and coarse woody debris layers. Western Australia’s long-term data demonstrates this clearly: maintaining prescribed burning at ~8–9% of public land annually keeps roughly 40% of the landscape in 0–5 year fuels, resulting in low bushfire area and high suppression effectiveness. Fuel structure simplification Fuel structure, the vertical and horizontal arrangement of combustible material, is as important as fuel load. Long fire free intervals produce dense understorey, low canopy base height, heavy bark fuels and continuous vertical ladders, conditions highly conducive to crown fire initiation. Fuel arrangement can have a greater impact on fire behaviour than overall fuel quantity. Prescribed burning simplifies fuel structure by reducing understorey density, removing juvenile eucalypts and shrubs, reducing dead woody debris, increasing vertical separation between fuel layers and charring fibrous bark, reducing spotting for several years These structural changes directly reduce flame contact with elevated fuels and limit crown fire potential. Breaking fuel continuity creating landscape mosaics Horizontal fuel discontinuity slows fire spread, reduces flame contact with elevated fuels and limits spotting. Landscape mosaics created by regular prescribed burning provide natural containment lines, reduce the probability of large fires, and support biodiversity by maintaining varied successional stages and unburnt refuges. Prescribed burning creates landscape mosaics and reduces fuel continuity. Reducing woody thickening and dead timber fuels Prescribed burning reduces woody thickening, a widespread issue in long unburnt forests. Thickened understorey increases fuel mass, reduces visibility, lowers canopy base height and increases ladder fuel density. It also reduces dead timber fuels generated by intense bushfires and by eucalypt decline associated with long term fire exclusion. Prescribed burning reduces quantities of dead timber fuels from intense bushfires and from decline processes driven by lack of regular, mild fire. These dead fuels significantly increase fire intensity, smouldering duration and suppression difficulty. Fire behaviour moderation and safety benefits In conclusion, prescribed burning moderates fire behaviour across all key dimensions, including intensity, severity, duration and rate of spread. By reducing fine fuels, simplifying structure and breaking continuity, prescribed burning lowers flame height, reduces ember production, limits crown fire potential and improves firefighter safety. Prescribed burning remains the only practical, scalable mechanism for reducing fuels, moderating fire behaviour, improving suppression effectiveness and reducing the likelihood of megafires.

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Forty-three Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) firefighters have deployed to the United States to support crews battling major wildfires, bringing specialist skills developed fighting fires in some of Victoria’s most rugged and remote forests. Source: Timberbiz The contingent is made up of highly trained and experienced firefighters from across the state, equipped to directly attack and contain fires in challenging conditions. “The situation across much of North America remains serious, and our crews are ready to put their skills and experience to work alongside local firefighters,” FFMVic Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman said. Firefighters across the United States are currently working to contain 94 large fires. This is the third international deployment of firefighters and incident management staff from Victoria since July. “Our arduous firefighters are among our most experienced and physically capable personnel. They will make a big difference,” Mr Hardman said. “They bring resilience, practical skills and a deep understanding of fire behaviour developed through years of responding to some of Victoria’s most devastating bushfires.”

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  New Zealand’s Gisborne council is commissioning an independent assurance review of its forestry consenting and compliance system. Source: Timberbiz The Hon Christopher Finlayson KC has been confirmed to chair the independent review panel, with environmental and resource management specialist Dr Marie Doole confirmed as a panel member. Further specialist expertise is currently being finalised. Gisborn Council Chief Executive Nedine Thatcher Swann said the council initiated the review to independently test whether its current approach is fit for purpose, proportionate to Tairāwhiti’s environmental risks, and clear and workable in practice. “Tairāwhiti’s highly erodible land, steep terrain, severe weather exposure and downstream risks mean our regulatory approach needs to reflect the realities of our region,” she said. “Council has significantly strengthened its forestry consenting, monitoring and enforcement capability since 2018, and we have also been working closely with the forestry sector to improve our processes and standard consent conditions. “That work has been constructive, but concerns continue to be raised about consenting requirements, compliance settings, costs and processing timeframes. Rather than continue debating those issues from different positions, we want them independently tested against the evidence.” The focused review will examine a representative sample of consenting and compliance files and selected consent conditions, and test concerns raised by the sector against processing records, operational examples and other relevant evidence. It will consider whether requirements are proportionate to risk, whether conditions are clear and practical, whether processes are efficient and consistently administered, and whether improvements could reduce unnecessary cost or uncertainty while maintaining strong environmental outcomes. The review will also distinguish between matters council can address itself and issues that may require cooperation with the forestry sector or clearer national direction. “This is about independently testing what we are doing, confirming what is working well and being prepared to change what needs improving,” Ms Thatcher Swann said. “The review will give us a clear evidence base for any subsequent improvement work. “We want a regulatory system that protects our environment and communities, gives responsible forestry operators greater certainty, and supports appropriate, sustainable forestry and land use across Tairāwhiti.” Council will provide the information and access required for the review but will not direct the panel’s findings. An initial findings report is expected within six weeks of the panel’s formal appointment.

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Forest & Wood Communities Australia says claims that the new Improved Native Forest Management carbon method provides a settled scientific and economic case for closing NSW native forestry ignore serious unresolved questions about carbon leakage, timber substitution and the governance of the process that produced the method. Source: Timberbiz FWCA Chair Steve Dobbyns said recent comments by former NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Deputy Secretary Atticus Fleming, arguing that forestry scientists should simply “accept the umpire’s decision”, failed to address the substance of growing technical criticism of the INFM Method. “Approval of a methodology does not make the science beyond question,” Mr Dobbyns said. “Forestry Australia’s forest-carbon specialists have warned that the INFM Method could potentially over-credit claimed abatement by 40 to 100 per cent, even before the full consequences of leakage and carbon stored in harvested wood products are taken into account. “Those are serious integrity questions that cannot simply be dismissed as an industry refusing to accept an umpire’s decision.” Plantation pine does not simply replace native hardwood. Mr Dobbyns said Mr Fleming’s claim that declining Australian native forest production had largely been replaced by plantation timber from Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam fundamentally misunderstood the timber market. “Firstly, New Zealand and Vietnam are imports, so citing them as evidence against import leakage is an extraordinary argument,” Mr Dobbyns said. “More importantly, plantation softwood does not simply substitute for native hardwood. “Research led by forest economist Dr Tyron Venn shows plantation softwood is an imperfect substitute for native forest timber and, in many building applications, softwood and hardwood are complementary products rather than interchangeable ones. “You do not replace hardwood flooring, decking, appearance-grade joinery, poles, piles and many structural or durability applications simply by producing more radiata pine. “Venn’s research found that when Australian native forest production falls, demand does not disappear. A substantial proportion of that lost production is displaced into imported timber. “That is the leakage problem the INFM Method has failed to adequately address.” Mr Dobbyns said the climate question therefore could not stop at the State forest boundary. “If NSW stops producing a renewable timber product and Australia then imports a large proportion of the replacement volume, the carbon consequences of those imports have to be counted. “That includes harvesting overseas, processing, international transport and the risk that displaced production occurs in countries with weaker forest governance and poorer environmental standards. “A carbon accounting method that counts the apparent gain in NSW while inadequately accounting for the emissions and forest impacts transferred elsewhere risks creating paper abatement rather than genuine global climate benefit.” Serious governance questions remain. FWCA said Mr Fleming’s intervention also highlighted legitimate questions about the governance of the Great Koala National Park and INFM processes. Mr Fleming was not simply an independent observer of those processes. As a senior executive of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, he chaired key elements of the Great Koala National Park assessment process. NPWS also stood to become the manager of a greatly expanded national park estate if the proposal proceeded. Evidence to NSW Budget Estimates has also established that Mr Fleming and the GKNP steering process were involved in progressing the proposal for Professor Andrew Macintosh and the Australian National University to develop a carbon methodology capable of generating ACCUs from stopping native forest harvesting. The NSW Government subsequently confirmed that development of the carbon method was specifically linked to the proposed Great Koala National Park. “None of that, by itself, proves improper conduct,” Mr Dobbyns said. “But it creates an obvious governance question that deserves a transparent answer. “Was it appropriate for the head of the government agency that stood to become one of the principal beneficiaries of a massive expansion of the national park estate to chair the assessment process, be involved in progressing the carbon-method proposal intended to help fund that outcome, and then publicly advocate ending the industry affected by it? “This is not necessarily a question of personal financial conflict. It is a question of whether competing public duties and institutional interests were properly identified, separated and managed. “Public confidence requires more than simply telling affected communities that the process has reached the desired outcome and they should now accept it.” Fifteen years of credits, a century of consequences. FWCA also questioned claims that carbon income would provide a sustainable replacement for the economic contribution of the native forest industry. The INFM provides a 15-year crediting period, while forest management obligations and the economic consequences of removing productive forests continue for generations. “Carbon credits may generate revenue for 15 years, but managing national parks, maintaining roads and fire access, controlling weeds and pests and protecting communities from wildfire does not stop in year 16,” Mr Dobbyns said. “Nor does Australia stop needing hardwood.” Mr Dobbyns said the integrity test for the INFM should be straightforward. “Count the regrowth that occurs after sustainable harvesting. “Count the carbon that remains stored in harvested wood products. “Count the substitution benefits where timber replaces more emissions-intensive materials. “Count the additional imports. “Count the overseas forest impacts and transport emissions. “And assess the carbon outcome over the life of the forest rather than selecting an accounting period that maximises the number of credits produced. “If the INFM Method still delivers genuine additional abatement after all of those factors are properly accounted for, it should withstand that scrutiny. “But dismissing legitimate scientific criticism and telling forest scientists, workers and regional communities to simply ‘accept the umpire’s decision’ is no substitute for answering the evidence.”

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The Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU) has slammed the Rockliff Government’s push for a parliamentary inquiry into the Rushy Lagoon plantation project as an attack on Tasmanian timber workers and the future of the state’s forestry industry. Source: Timberbiz TFTU Tasmanian Secretary Danny Murphy said the Government had already been warned what the project would mean for workers, industry and regional communities. “Only weeks ago, we wrote to every Tasmanian parliamentarian explaining that Rushy Lagoon was a major win for our industry, workers and communities. “It means greater security of future timber supply, more investment in value-adding and more jobs in planting, harvesting, haulage, sawmilling and manufacturing. “For decades, Tasmanian governments of both political persuasions have given bipartisan support to the forestry industry and the jobs of timber workers. “We are shocked that the Rockliff Government would now take this action and ignore the concerns raised by timber workers and their union.” The final report of Australia’s Timber Fibre Strategy identifies the need for new plantation investment to secure Australia’s future timber supply. It also recognises the role of the ACCU Scheme in making productive commercial plantations viable and the opportunities for forestry and agriculture to work alongside each other. “If the Rockliff Government genuinely supports Tasmania’s timber industry, it should listen to the workers, families and communities that depend on it. “These trees mean jobs. They mean work in our forests, on our roads and in our mills and timber to build Tasmanian homes for decades. “Instead of backing that investment, the Government is establishing an inquiry whose terms put plantation forestry and the Commonwealth policies supporting it under the microscope. “The cat is already out of the bag. Agricultural lobby groups are calling for the inquiry to go beyond Rushy Lagoon and examine the wider policies supporting plantation forestry. “This is no longer just an inquiry into the sale of one farm. The Rockliff Government is opening the door to a broader attack on productive plantation forestry. “Timber workers will not stand by while our industry is demonised and the future resource on which our jobs depend is put at risk. “You cannot claim to support timber workers while putting the plantations their future jobs depend on in the dock. “This is social and economic vandalism dressed up as scrutiny.”

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For more than three decades, Australia’s hardwood plantation industry has been built on a simple but largely successful business model: growing world-class plantation fibre for export to Asia’s pulp mills. It has underpinned regional economies, attracted significant investment and established Australia as one of the world’s most reliable suppliers of hardwood fibre. Source: Tim Woods, lead developer of The Precinct project But global markets are changing and have been for more than a decade. The export model that has served the industry so well is increasingly vulnerable. Recent export data points to more than a temporary downturn. It signals a structural shift in the global fibre market that has reinforced industry’s determination to pursue alternative means to capture value from the nation’s plantation resource. Australian woodchip exports have fallen by more than 10% over the past year, with April export volumes declining 45% compared with the previous month. While commodity markets inevitably fluctuate, the more significant story lies in changing demand from Australia’s largest customer. China’s pulp industry is becoming ever less reliant on imported Australian hardwood fibre. A prolonged slowdown in China’s domestic housing market has released significant volumes of locally sourced fibre into the supply chain, reducing reliance on imported woodchips and enabling manufacturers to produce satisfactory pulp from a lower-cost fibre mix. Vietnam has the market At the same time, competition from Vietnam has intensified. During the first four months of 2026, China’s imports of Vietnamese hardwood chips increased by 20.2% to 4.054 million bone dry metric tonnes (BDMT), while Australian shipments fell 17.7% to just 0.757 million BDMT over the same period. Vietnam now accounts for virtually all of China’s growth in hardwood chip imports, with total Chinese imports increasing 11.4% in early 2026. Meantime, Australian supply went backwards. The competitive landscape is also changing on price. Vietnamese hardwood chips averaged around USD175 FOB/BDMT in April, compared with Australia’s average of US$166 FOB/BDMT. More importantly, Vietnamese suppliers have increased prices by approximately 25% since September 2025 while remaining below the landed cost of Australian fibre in China. Australian export prices have risen by only around 8% over the same period, reflecting weaker market demand and Australia’s diminishing pricing power. This is a structural change For many years, Australian hardwood plantations enjoyed a clear competitive advantage. High-quality Eucalyptus globulus, dependable supply and Australia’s reputation as a politically stable trading partner meant local fibre attracted a premium whenever global pulp markets strengthened. Today that advantage is eroding as Chinese manufacturers diversify supply sources, optimise fibre blends and reduce dependence on Australian imports. Taken together, these trends point to something far more significant than a cyclical downturn. They represent a structural shift in the global fibre market. The critical question for Australia is no longer whether we can compete harder in an increasingly crowded commodity market. It is whether exporting raw fibre is the highest-value use of one of our most important renewable resources. Diversification to meet sovereign needs The same plantation estate is equally capable of producing higher-value engineered wood products that support advanced manufacturing of dwelling components and dwellings, skilled regional employment and sovereign industrial capability. There is no better demonstration of this potential than Stage One of The Precinct project – the Hardwood Timber Manufacturing Hub. The now delivered preliminary feasibility study proves that instead of exporting low-value fibre and importing finished building products, Australia has an opportunity to capture far greater economic value through domestic processing and integration into the built environment. The timing could not be better. As export markets become more competitive, Australia faces an unprecedented housing challenge. Governments across the country are actively pursuing faster, more productive construction methods through prefabrication, modular housing and mass timber construction. The release of the National Housing Strategy at the recent ALP National Conference reinforces the growing policy focus on housing productivity, sovereign manufacturing and modern methods of construction. From plantations, to products, to prefabrication Yet despite this opportunity, Australia continues to import around $1 billion worth of engineered wood products, plywood and wood panels each year, while exporting much of the raw fibre needed to manufacture them. In effect, Australia is exporting the raw material while importing the finished products needed to build homes. This approach captures manufacturing jobs, innovation and economic returns offshore, despite Australia possessing the plantation resource, technical capability, relatively stable and growing domestic market to do that work locally. Shifting from exporting fibre and importing value-added products, Australia has the opportunity to extend an integrated domestic manufacturing sector that converts plantation resources into engineered wood products, prefabricated building systems and integrated dwelling solutions. This is precisely where The Precinct represents a fundamentally different proposition. The Precinct is being designed as an integrated, advanced manufacturing ecosystem that brings together plantation resources, engineered wood products, prefabrication, dwelling component manufacturing and circular economy principles, within a single regional supply chain. Its importance lies in recognising the future for the value chain lies in integrated manufacturing that has a laser focus on delivering dwelling solutions, in the national interest. Importantly, this transition aligns with the direction of government policy. Housing productivity, sovereign manufacturing, regional industrial development and lower-emissions construction are no longer separate policy objectives, they are increasingly part of the same national agenda. Developments to deliver this integrated agenda will define much of Australia’s housing future. The latest export figures should therefore be viewed not as a hurdle for Australia’s plantation industry, but as a catalyst for transformation. Australia has always adapted to changing markets. The next chapter will be led and won by creating more value from our resources, sophisticated and integrated sovereign supply chains that are focussed on delivering the next generation of housing, employment and regional economic resilience.

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