FAIR-CT97-3775 End use and substitution analysis for sawn timber and wood-based panels: implications for European forestry

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FAIR Area 1.3 - Forestry-Wood Chain : Forestry : Solid Wood Products : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Contract No:	FAIR-CT97-3775
	Date Prepared:	May 2000
	Source:	Final Report Abstract

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Final Report Abstract

Objectives

This project aimed to:

• pool existing knowledge on end uses and end use trends of sawn timber (softwoods and hardwoods) and wood based panels in Europe and methods of end use analysis employed.
• bring together information on trends in the substitution of sawn timber and wood based panels by other wood products and non-wood materials and to evaluate the suitability of methods of substitution analysis for monitoring European trends for these products.
• assess the needs by the wood based industries and forest sector policy makers for systematic and consistent studies on end uses and substitution.

On the basis of the results fro the above, it was expected to:

• Recommend methods of end-use and substitution analysis which would make it possible to provide consistent monitoring of these trends in Europe.
• To identify new data needed for such studies and the most appropriate methods for its collection.

The work for tasks I and 2 was undertaken simultaneously, task 3 commenced in March 1999 and task 4 took place in March 2000. This covered both end-use analysis aimed at consolidating existing knowledge and statistics on end uses of sawn timber and wood based panel products in Europe and the review of methods of data collection, data requirements and analysis for identifying end-uses and end-use trends of sawn timber and wood based panel products. Further work was carried out to identify trends in substitution affecting sawnwood and wood based panels in Europe and other industrialised nations and to review methods of analysis and data requirements for monitoring substitution trends over time.

An industry survey of needs for and potential involvement in end-use and substitution analyses was carried out among approximately 500 European forestry and forest industry companies and associations to assess their need for regular and consistent analyses of end-uses and substitution trends of sawn wood and wood based panels as well as to indicate the degree of involvement by industry in future end-use and substitution analyses.

These activities led to a synthesis of results and recommendations carried out as follows;

• analysis of the industry questionnaire and report on outcome of task 3 (industry survey)
• discussions with industry representatives on their need for regular and consistent end-use and/or substitution analyses and how, if appropriate, future research on these topics should be executed in terms of. data availability and collection, analytical methods, periodicity of analyses, most appropriate means of dissemination of required information and
• making recommendations on future activities
• identifying any implications for European forestry arising from the concerted action.

Activities

A review of available data on end uses of sawn timber and wood based panels was carried out. Information was obtained from published literature, unpublished research studies and miscellaneous statistics. Similar investigations were undertaken for substitution analysis and for this aspect a questionnaire was circulated enquiring about substitution trends in various countries.

The first workshop to discuss the findings of tasks I and 2 and to plan for task 3 was held at the University of Padua, Italy from 29-31 March 1999. There was extensive discussion of the findings and methodologies outlined at this meeting with particular reference to their relevance for future pan-European studies. The second part of the meeting concentrated on the scope and methods of the industry survey (task 3) and the result was a first rough draft of the outline of the industry survey and its contents and questions.

In the period following the workshop (April-August) there was extensive discussion and refinement of the industry questionnaire. The detailed content and format of the questionnaire was agreed by early September. The questionnaire was sent to companies in the five partner countries including France in October 1999. Two weeks later a second mailing was sent to non-respondents. The mailing included a cover letter, an explanation of the questionnaire and a summary of results of the literature review. The coverage was about 80% of the total production of timber products, 297 usable responses were received (21.7% of the total sample).

The questionnaire covered the topics:

• Timber markets
• Market segment construction
• Distribution channels
• Substitution
• Data availability.

On March 16/17 2000 a Workshop was held in Vienna with 28 selected representatives of industry and research (task 4). In this very productive meeting outcomes of the survey were discussed and industries' needs on further research were identified. Data availability and methods of collection of analysis were outlined in presentations by researchers (partners) and invited delegates.

The fruitful discussions clearly indicated a need for further work on the end-use analysis as a major requirement for wood based industries. Industry representatives were extremely positive about co-operation on this research. Topics of major importance were identified and recommendations for future work were outlined.

Results

The European forestry based and related industries operate in a highly integrated chain starting with forest owners and extending to manufacturers of primary and secondary processed products and including distributors of these products. The sector employs 2.4 million people in the EU. Much of the employment, particularly in forestry and primary processing, is in rural areas many of which are economically disadvantaged. Loss of markets by the forest industries thus has a direct impact on forest owners and rural economics. This project has demonstrated that the forest industries have a clear need for better market information and an improved understanding of end uses and that this will strengthen their competitive situation. This in turn will enhance the prosperity of forest owners and rural economics in the EU.

Results of the industry survey and the findings of Worshop II were reported in the "Holzkurier" (Issues March 23 and 30, 2000), a main timber journal in Austria as the chief editor was invited to this Workshop. Reports of this project will be sent to journals in the partner countries for publication.

Future Actions

The project clearly identified a need for future actions in the field of end use and substitution research. This was clearly indicated in Workshop II in Vienna where industry and researchers together discussed the focus of further work. In this very productive meeting topics of major importance were identified and the need for progress was stressed by industry.