Logs & Lumber, Wood Products Prices Index

International Log & Sawnwood Prices

16-31th January 2005

International Log Prices

Sarawak Log Prices

FOB per Cu.m

Meranti SQ up US$190-195

small US$160-165

super small US$130-135

Keruing SQ up US$170-175

small US$140-145

super small US$110-115

Kapur SQ up US$145-150

Selangan Batu SQ up US$145-150

Francophone West African Log Prices

Log prices remained unchanged throughout January. Traders expect that Azobe prices will move up in the coming weeks as lower production in the region, coupled with fewer shipping opportunities, has apparently created a shortage of stock in Europe.

Sapele prices held firm this month because rain curtailed production, a contrast with the oversupply situation seen during the latter part of last year.

Movingui logs are reportedly not selling well to the traditional buyers in France, most of whom are well stocked and demand from buyers for China is slow ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations and because there are reports of relatively high log stocks in China.

As mentioned in December, government of Gabon has proposed that as from January 2006 log exporters will no longer be required to sell logs through the State organization SNBG.

This is receiving some mixed reactions as, in spite of some past financial problems, the SNBG does set and guarantee export prices and is able to represent those producers who are too small to have their own sales outlets.

The freedom to export logs may well suit the very large producers, though even here some exporters fear that inter-company competition may lead to downwards pressure on prices.

Currently, exports of main the species Okoume logs from Gabon are in sharp decline and has been met with increased exports from Congo Brazzaville.

FOB LM B BC/C

Euro per Cu.m

Afromosia/Assamela 381 350 -

Acajou/N'Gollon 206 191 -

Ayous/Obeche 206 190 160

Azobe 137 122 114

Bibolo/Dibtou 144 107 -

Movingui 190 175 145

Fromager/Ceiba 114 114 -

Iroko 351 320 241

Limba/Frake 137 114 99

Moabi 244 221 206

Padouk 206 206 -

Sapelli 229 213 190

Sipo/Utile 274 259 -

Tali 144 129 91

Doussie 457 335 274

Gabon Okoume

Grade per Cu.m

CI US$150

CE US$122

CS US$95

QS US$176

Okoume for China

40% CI, 40% CE, 20% CS US$200 (Free alongside)

Myanmar

Teak Logs

Veneer Quality FOB per Hoppus Ton

Nov Dec

2nd Quality Euro 4200 Euro 4252

4 tons 4 tons

3rd Quality Euro 3905 Euro 3888

7 tons 7 tons

4th Quality Euro 3495 Euro 2943

48 tons 49 tons

Sawing Quality per Hoppus Ton

Grade 1 Av. Euro 2055 Euro 1849

148 tons 156 tons

Grade 2 Av. Euro 1555 Euro 1450

227 tons 306 tons

Grade 3 Av. Euro 785 Euro 708

207 tons 139 tons

Grade 4 Av. Euro 985 Euro 902

463 tons 629 tons

Assorted Av. Nil Euro 912

Nil 20 tons

Domestic Euro 535 Euro 555

2015 tons 1798 tons

Papua New Guinea

Saw/veneer grade

December Average FOB per Cu.m

Malas US$60

Calophyllum US$75

Taun US$72

Terminalia US$61

Pencil Cedar US$73

PNG Mersawa US$82

Red Canarium US$60

Erima US$58

Dillenia US$59

Burckella US$62

Kwila US$96

Domestic Log Prices

Brazil

Logs at mill yard per Cu.m

Mahogany Ist Grade No Sales

Ipe US$80

Jatoba US$49

Guaruba US$35

Mescla(white virola) US$42

Indonesia

Domestic log prices per Cu.m

Plywood logs

Face Logs US$90-100

Core logs US$60-75

Sawlogs(Meranti) US$105-115

Falkata logs US$90-95

Rubberwood US$85-95

Pine US$95-100

Mahoni US$500-515

Peninsula Malaysia

Logs

Domestic (SQ ex-log yard) per Cu.m

DR Meranti US$210-220

Balau US$175-180

Merbau US$215-225

Rubberwood US$85-90

Keruing US$175-185

Ghana

per Cu.m

Wawa US$36-44

Odum US$77-175

Ceiba US$31-53

Chenchen US$33-88

Mahogany (Veneer Qual.) US$40-91

Sapele US$55-154

Makore (Veneer Qual.) US$54-154

International Sawnwood

Francophone West Africa

It is reported that stocks of South American lumber in France, Portugal and Netherlands are still sufficient for present consumption levels, leading to slow new business for West African lumber. As with logs, prices for sawnwood have remained unchanged over the past weeks.

Purchases for other EU destinations also are slow but exporters remain confident they can hold prices through the coming months.

The news circulating in the trade is that more West African exporters are beginning to sign up forest certification schemes because of mounting pressure from importers and merchants in continental Europe for supply of timber from fully authenticated, certified and sustainable sources.

FOB per Cu.m

Okoume Euro

FAS GMS 275

Standard and Better 260

FAS Fixed Sizes 290

Sipo

FAS Standard Sizes 488

FAS Fixed Sizes 519

Sapelli

FAS scantlings 487

Dibtou

FAS Standard Sizes 381

FAS Fixed Sizes 412

Iroko

FAS GMS 458

Scantlings 519

Strips 304

Khaya

FAS GMS 366

Brazil

Sawnwood export prices recovered further ground during January on the back of firm demand from US and EU markets.

The main driving forces for Brazilian exports this year will be the weak dollar compared to the euro, shipping availability and an expected shortage of plantation pine logs.

FOB Belem/Paranagua Ports

Export Sawnwood per Cu.m

Mahogany KD FAS FOB

UK market no trade

Jatoba Green (dressed) US$560

Cambara KD US$420

Asian Market(green)

Guaruba US$250

Angelim pedra US$275

Mandioqueira US$205

Pine (AD) US$130

Malaysia

Sawn Timber

Export(FOB) per Cu.m

White Meranti A & Up US$325-330

Seraya

Scantlings (75x125 KD) US$645-655

Sepetir Boards US$185-195

K.Sesendok 25,50mm US$350-360

Ghana

FOB Euro per Cu.m

Afromosia 855

Asanfina 480

Ceiba 180

Dahoma 310

Emeri 350

Edinam 370

Khaya 520

Makore 450

Niangon 470

Odum 610

Sapele 480

Wawa 1C&sel 245

Peru

For US Market per Cu.m

Mahogany 1C&B, KD 16%

Central American market US$1220-1250

Mahogany 1C&B, KD 16%

US market US$1300-1380

Spanish Cedar No.1 C&B,

KD 16%,

Central Am. Market US$615-630

Walnut 1" Thickness,

6' - 11' length US$660-700

Spanish cedar # 1 C&B,

KD 16%

Mexican market US$630-650

Pumaquiro 25-50mm AD

Mexican market US$460-490

Virola 1" to 2"

Length 6' - 8' KD US$270-290

Lagarto 2" Thickness,

6' - 8' length US$345-365

Ishpingo 2"

Thickness 6' - 8' length US$365-385

Domestic Sawnwood Prices

Brazil

Sawnwood (Green ex-mill)

Northern Mills per Cu.m

Mahogany No sales

Ipe US$340

Jatoba US$247

Southern Mills

Eucalyptus AD US$118

Pine (KD) First Grade US$152

Indonesia

Sawn timber, ex-mill

Domestic construction material

Kampar per Cu.m

AD 3x12-15x400cm US$200-210

KD US$280-290

AD 3x20x400cm US$305-315

KD US$320-330

Keruing

AD 3x12-15cmx400 US$225-230

AD 2x20cmx400 US$220-225

AD 3x30cmx400 US$230-235

Malaysia

Sawnwood per Cu.m

Balau(25&50mm,100mm+)

US$235-245

Kempas50mm by

(75,100&125mm) US$185-195

Rubberwood

25x75x660mm up US$235-240

50-75mm Sq. US$245-250

>75mm sq. US$255-265

Ghana

Sawnwood per Cu.m

Wawa 25x300x4.2m US$73

Emeri 25x300x4.2m US$70

Ceiba 25x300x4.2m US$53

Dahoma 50x150x4.2m US$138

Redwood 50x75x4.2m US$122

Ofram 25x225x4.2m US$136

Peru

per Cu.m

Mahogany US$1512-1522

Virola US$186-200

Spanish Cedar US$630-640

Catahua US$177-183

Tornillo US$357-365

Abbreviations

LM Loyale Merchant, a grade of log parcel	Cu.m Cubic Metre
QS Qualite Superieure	Koku 0.278 Cu.m or 120BF
CI Choix Industriel	FFR French Franc
CE Choix Economique	SQ Sawmill Quality
CS Choix Supplimentaire	SSQ Select Sawmill Quality
FOB Free-on-Board	FAS Sawnwood Grade First and
KD Kiln Dry	Second
AD Air Dry	WBP Water and Boil Proof
Boule A Log Sawn Through and Through	MR Moisture Resistant
the boards from one log are bundled	pc per piece
together	ea each
BB/CC Grade B faced and Grade C backed	MBF 1000 Board Feet
Plywood	MDF Medium Density Fibreboard
BF Board Foot	F.CFA CFA Franc
Sq.Ft Square Foot	Price has moved up or down

Source: ITTO