International Log & Sawnwood Prices

16 – 30th April  2021

1. CENTRAL AND WEST AFRICA

  Buyer interest and bad weather lifts okoume price
offers
April FOB prices remain at the same level as in March,
however, producers have signalled that enquiries for
okoume from importers for the Chinese market are on the
rise and some exporters have secured a euro 5/cu.m
increase in FOB prices for sawn okoume.

The price rise for okoume is also a function of availability.
Bad weather in both Gabon and Congo has impacted
harvesting and transport.

Export prices for the European market remain flat as the
hoped for early recovery of demand has not yet taken hold
in Europe. All shippers in the region are experiencing
problems in securing sufficient containers.

Derailments continue to plague Gabon
As the second quarter began the Transgabonais operating
company (Setrag) continued to experience train
derailments. The company reported another derailment on
22 April between Oyan and Mbel. In the first quarter the
company reported a derailment in each month. The
disruption caused by these derailments has resulted in
peelers mills in the GSEZ running short of logs such that
they are operating well below capacity.

Bad weather is also affecting log supplies to mills in
Cameroon which are already suffering from the impact of
the maximum load limit on trucks.

Equatorial Guinea a major shipper
Once again concern has been raised on the extent of
timber exports from Equatorial Guinea. Industry sources
have estimated that around 30,000 cu.m of timber is
exported monthly mainly to China and CITES regulated
timbers are included. According to data from China”s
Customs. Equatorial Guinea was the 6th ranked tropical
log supplier to the country in 2020.

Tax changes rattle businesses
Timber companies in Gabon are reeling from recent
changes in tax and fee structures. It was recently
announced that the export duty on sawnwood will be
increased from 1.9 % to 7% for air dry sawnwood and 3%
for kiln dry sawnwood.

2. GHANA

   New Minster – no more mining in forests
Samuel Abu Jinapor, Ghana”s new Minister for Lands and
Natural Resources has issued a directive to the Forestry
Commission to stop issuing permits for mining in forests.
This comes at a time when illegal small-scale miners
continue to evade the authorities.

Illegal logging and mining in forest reserves have a
negative impact on the environment and on the timber
industry.

See: https://www.pulse.com.gh/news/local/galamsey-landsminister-halts-all-forest-mining-permits/em3fy0f

The Ghana Timber Association (GTA) has welcomed the
Minister”s decision saying this will help reduce forest
degradation. The forest cover in Ghana has fallen steadily
due mainly to farming and mining.

Securing logs for Ghana mills serving domestic
market – changes to forest concession contracts
planned
Dr. Nurudeen Iddrisu, Director of Operations and Acting
Executive Director of the Timber Industry Development
Division (TIDD) of the Forestry Commission has called
for collaboration between companies operating in the
export and domestic markets to ensure the sustainability of
Ghana”s forests.

At a workshop “Preparing Domestic Market Players
Towards FLEGT Licensing”, Dr. Iddrisu said partnership
between the two sectors of the timber industry would lead
to a sustained supply of wood for domestic processing.

He disclosed that the Forestry Commission is to
implement a 100% Yield Removal Policy that mandates
concessionaires remove species in the yield allocation
even if there is no immediate export market for these
timbers.

According to Iddrisu the practice of concessionaires to
harvest only their preferred species for export denies
supplies to mills processing for the domestic market.

Iddirsu said “With this new policy, we require them
(concessionaires) to harvest all so they can sell the other
species to the domestic timber merchants; that would
ensure constant supply of wood on the market and curb
illegal logging,”

See: https://www.modernghana.com/news/1072004/domesticand-export-timber-market-actors-asked.html

Utility companies seek to raise prices
The Ghana Employers” Association (GEA) has urged the
Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to reject
any proposal from the utility companies seeking an
increase in tariffs as an increase, particularly at this time,
could lead to many companies collapsing.

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana
Water Company Limited (GWCL) are two major utilities
companies regulated by the PURC which have been
pushing for authority to raise prices to consumers.

Economy forecast to grow this year
According to the April 2021 “West Africa Monitor” report
by Fitch Solutions Ghana”s economy is forecast to grow
4.5% this year with all the sectors contributing to an
appreciable growth rate. This would translate into a per
capita income of US$2,206 in 2021, from US$2,020 in
2020.

Ghana”s timber and wood product exports for first 2-
months of 2021 registered significant increases when
compared to same period in 2020.

3. MALAYSIA

   Corona update
The daily count of Covid 19 cases in Malaysia is coming
close to 3,000. As of mid-April the country recorded a
total of 390,252 cases with 1,426 deaths.

The vaccination programme started on 23 April. The
vaccination programme is being carried out in three
phases. The first, which is expected to be completed by the
end of April covers frontliners. The second, which began
on 19 April, involves high-risk groups and those aged 60
and above.

Private sector urges ratification of CPTTP
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has
called on the government to urgently ratify the
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-
Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Regional Comprehensive
Partnership Agreement (RCEP) to assist business recovery
and rebuild supply chains in the region. FMM president,
Soh Thian Lai, said the Federation believes regional trade
agreements will greatly contribute to the postpandemic.
The CPTPP eliminates tariffs on nearly 96% of
products traded with the intra-regional group.

See: https://www.fmm.org.my/FMM_In_The_News-@-Expedite_ratification_of_CPTPP,_RCEP_to_assist_business_recovery_-_FMM.aspx

Malaysian trade data
The latest Department of Statistics data shows Malaysian
wood product exports for the first 2 months of this year
earned RM3,782 million of which added value products
accounted for just over 70%.

For the same period, Malaysia also imported wood
products worth RM1,285 million of which commodity
products made up 44% and value added products 56%.

Sabah log export ban confirmed
Sabah Timber Industries Association (STIA) President,
Tan Peng Juan, welcomed the decision by the Chief
Minister, Hajiji Noor, confirming that Sabah”s log export
ban will be maintained.

Tan said this decision has come as a big relief to existing
and potential investors in the timber sector. He pointed out
the log export ban will help provide job security for the
approximately 24,000 employed in the timber industry as
will initiatives being developed such as the Sabah Timber
Industry Masterplan and the Sabah Forestry and Timber
Industry Council.

See: https://www.theborneopost.com/2021/04/11/stia-welcomesaffirmation-log-export-ban-stays/

4.  INDONESIA

  SFM core to boosting exports
The senior economist of the Institute for Development of
Economics and Finance (INDEF), Dradjad H Wibowo,
who is also the Chairman of the Indonesian Forestry
Certification Cooperation (IFCC) said that the climate
crisis and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will
have a central role in the global issues in the future.
Dradjad said for Indonesia the issue of sustainable forest
management (SFM) has a major influence on the image of
Indonesia”s global image.

He explained that in the past the issue of SFM undermined
exports and impacted the economy but with hard work the
government, the private sector and civil society has
gradually been able to improve its performance and image
related to SFM.

See: https://www.viva.co.id/berita/bisnis/1366558-pentingnyasertifikasi-hutan-lestari-untuk-dongkrak-ekspor

Trade Minister calls for expansion of furniture exports
The Indonesian Minister of Trade, Muhammad Lutfi, has
urged Indonesian furniture producers to expand exports.
He said this when witnessing the export shipment of
furniture produced by PT Integra Indocabinet. The
minister promised to help companies in resolving
problems to increase exports and he refuted claims that it
is more difficult to get raw materials in Indonesia than in
Vietnam. He claimed that demand in the US for
Indonesian furniture has expanded after sanctions on some
other countries in Asia.

See: https://investor.id/business/tingkatkan-kinerja-eksporfurnitur-mendag-kunjungi-pabrik-indocabinet

Supporting SMEs exports of furniture and craft
According to the Director General of Small and Medium
Enterprises and Miscellaneous Industries (IKMA) in the
Ministry of Industry, Gati Wibawaningsih, there are plans
to assign officers in the Indonesian Trade Promotion
Center (ITPC) and trade attachés in Embassies to promote
exports by Indonesian SMEs.

This is part of the strategy of the Ministry of Industry to
safeguard export markets for SME furniture and craft
enterprises. One of the obstacles for Indonesian SMEs in
the furniture and handicraft sector is that port operations
overseas have been disrupted and shipping opportunities
have been affected by a shortage of containers. On the
issue of raw material supply Gati urged the quick
establishment of the proposed “Material Center” to ease
the problem of supply of timber and other inputs.

See: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/1424261/kemenperinjaga-pasar-ekspor-ikm-furnitur-dan-kerajinan

Indonesia to lead preparatory dialogue on forest
sustainability
Indonesia has agreed to co-chair an international alliance
that brings together producers and consumers of forest and
agricultural products as well as other commodities.
Together with the UK, Indonesia will lead more than 25
countries grouped in the Forest Agriculture and
Commodities Trade (FACT) Dialogue to protect and
increase sustainability of supply chains of products.

The UK will host the 26th United Nations Climate Change
Conference of the Parties in Glasgow in November to
accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement
and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The dialogue led by Indonesia is part of preparatory
activities for the summit.

Communication strategy needed to support forest
farmers
Secretary of the Directorate General of Social Forestry and
Environmental Partnerships (PSKL) in the Ministry of
Environment and Forestry, Apik Karyana, has said forest
management programmes can be a successful way to
provide assistance to forest farmers.

According to him the assistance could be through training
forest farmers to better understand the new forestry
regulations and to assist them in marketing. Professor of
Forestry Policy, Faculty of Forestry IPB, Hariadi
Kartodiharjo, is of the opinion that assistance for forest
farmers is indeed a challenge and that a communication
strategy needs to be developed.

See: https://www.republika.co.id/berita/qrwpuk456/klhkjabarkan-pentingnya-program-pendampingan-untuk-petani

In related news the government continues to encourage the
use of forests for the community. Based on the 2015-2019
National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) the
target for providing forest management and utilisation
access to communities was 12.7 million hectares (ha). This
figure was then revised in 2020 to 13.9 million ha.

Some 4.5 million ha. have been distributed said Erna
Rosdiana, Director of Social Forestry Area Preparation at
the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. However,
achieving the vision of a sustainable forest and a
prosperous community still faces obstacles.

See: https://www.republika.co.id/berita/qrynfo456/perlukolaborasi-agar-program-perhutanan-sosial-maksimal

Curbing forest fires
In a keynote address to an event on climate action, Ms Siti
Nurbaya Bakar, Minister for the Environment and
Forestry, said the country has made significant progress in
controlling forest fires. She reported that the government
has an agency to begin restoring the most vulnerable
peatlands and will work with plantation companies to
restore badly degraded areas.

See: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesiato-curb-forest-land-fires-further-by-all-means

5. MYANMAR

  Over 1.5 million vaccinated
According to Central Contagious Disease Prevention and
Eradication Sub-Department under the Ministry of Health
and Sports, more than 1.5 million people have received a
single dose of COVID-19 and about 340,000 people have
been given second vaccine dose as of 21 April 21. People
over 60 years old are given priority for the vaccine. No
patient has died since 27 March.

See: https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/myanmar-provides-asingle-dose-for-over-15-m-people-and-second-dose-for-about-340000

Sanctions on Myanmar timber and pearl firms
The United States has imposed sanctions on the Myanmar
state-owned Myanma Timber Enterprise and Myanmar
Pearl Enterprise.

The press release from U.S. Department of the Treasury”s
Office of Foreign Assets Control says: “The Burmese
military derives significant funding from state-owned
enterprises in the natural resources market. Today”s action
demonstrates the United States” commitment to targeting
this specific funding channel and promoting accountability
for those responsible for the coup and ongoing violence.”

See: https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/pressreleases/Pages/jl0458.aspx

Some timber exporters interpret that this action while
directly impacting MTE which will not be able to act as a
shipper and the beneficiary of the remittance, it may not
make much impact on private exporters since the US
action does not refer directly to a restriction on timber
exports.

European Council imposes sanctions
In related news a press release from the the European
Council says “the Council decided to sanction 10
individuals and two military-controlled companies,
Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Limited
(MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited
(MEC) in relation to the military coup staged in
Myanmar/Burma on 1 February 2021 and the ensuing
military and police repression against peaceful
demonstrators. The decision was taken by written
procedure.

The individuals targeted by sanctions are all responsible
for undermining democracy and the rule of law in
Myanmar/Burma and for repressive decisions and serious
human rights violations.

The two sanctioned entities are large conglomerates that
operate in many sectors of Myanmar”s economy and
are owned and controlled by the Myanmar Armed Forces
(Tatmadaw) and provide revenue for it.

The adopted sanctions specifically target the economic
interests of Myanmar”s military regime which is
responsible for the overthrow of Burma”s democratically
elected government. Sanctions are crafted in such a way to
avoid undue harm to the people of Myanmar.

Today”s decision is a sign of the EU”s unity and
determination in condemning the brutal actions of the
military junta, and aims at effecting change in the junta”s
leadership. The decision also sends a clear message to the
military leadership: continuing on the current path will
only bring further suffering and will never grant any
legitimacy.

Restrictive measures, which now apply to a total of 35
individuals and two companies, include a travel ban and
an asset freeze. In addition, EU citizens and companies
are forbidden from making funds available to the listed
individuals and entities.”

See:https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pressreleases/2021/04/19/myanmar-burma-eu-imposes-sanctions-on-10-individuals-and-two-military-controlled-companies-over-thefebruary-military-coup-and-subsequent-repression/

ASEAN Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar
A press release from the ASEAN Secretariat says: “We, as
an ASEAN family, had a close discussion on the recent
developments in Myanmar and expressed our deep
concern on the situation in the country, including reports
of fatalities and escalation of violence.

We acknowledged ASEAN”s positive and constructive
role in facilitating a peaceful solution in the interest of the
people of Myanmar and their livelihoods and therefore
agreed to the “Five-Point Consensus” attached to this
Chairman”s Statement. We also heard calls for the release
of all political prisoners including foreigners.”

The ASEAN Leaders reached consensus on the following:
• There shall be an immediate cessation of violence in
Myanmar and all parties shall exercise utmost restraint.

• Constructive dialogue among all parties concerned shall
commence to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of
the people.

• A special envoy of the ASEAN Chairperson shall
facilitate mediation of the dialogue process, with the
assistance of the Secretary General of ASEAN.

• ASEAN shall provide humanitarian assistance through
the AHA Centre.

• The special envoy and delegation shall visit Myanmar to
meet with all parties concerned.

See: https://asean.org/storage/Chairmans-Statement-on-ALMFive-Point-Consensus-24-April-2021-FINAL-a-1.pdf

According to Irrawaddy News the SEAN leaders pressured
coup leader and armed forces commander-in-chief Senior
General Min Aung Hlaing to end the violence by his
security forces which has seen at least 745 people killed
during anti-regime protests.

See: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/asean-leadersurge-myanmar-coup-chief-end-violence-allow-special-envoyaid.html

MTE suspends harvesting for 2021-22
While there has been no official statement it has been
learnt that the Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE) has
suspended harvesting for the 2021-2022 season.

For 2020-21 MTE had planned to harvest about 4,000 tons
of teak and 200,000 tons of other hardwoods.

Harvest levels are determined from inventory data from
which an Annual Allowable Cut (AAC) is determined.
The AAC set by the Forest Department for the ten years
from 2016-17 to 2125-2126 is about 19,120 teak trees and
592,330 other hardwood trees.

In 2020 some MTE log stocks went unsold as the monthly
tenders were postponed or cancelled because of the
pandemic. It is assumed that there are considerable stocks
held especially of non-teak hardwoods.

The Forest Department and MTE have from time to time
indicated that the harvest is far less than the AAC but there
are critics who say the reliability of the inventory, which is
core to calculate the AAC, may be inaccurate.

According to exporters, the Trade Department suspended
the issuance of export licenses for timber products except
veneers from the first week of April. Following a meeting
among the Trade Department, Forest Department and
Custom Department and exporters a decision to resume
the issuance of export licenses will soon be made.

6. INDIA

  Mass migration from the cities once more
In view of the rapidly rising cases of COVID-19 the Delhi
government imposed a night curfew in Delhi from 10 pm
to 5 am until 30 April. Delhi recently recorded 13,468
COVID-19 daily cases, the highest single-day spike so far.

Fearing an extension of the lockdown which trapped
migrant workers in the cities many have already returned
to heir home towns. The impact of this migrantion is
disrupting the construction and manufacturing secotors in
particular. In mid-month the Maharashtra government also
announced a series of restrictions effective until 1 May.

The current surge in COVID-19 infections and the danger
of an explosive spread of the corona mutant has seriously
dented sentiment in the real estate sector. Real
estate specialists Knight Frank India in association with
the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry or FICCI as well as the National Real Estate
Development Council or NARDECO, made available its
“Real Estate Sentiment Index Q1 2021”.

The survey behind the report showed that the future
sentiment score dropped from 65 in Q4 2020 to 57 in Q1
2021. Sentiment on prospects for the next six months fell
in all regions and the outlook for housing starts has
weakened.

See:
https://content.knightfrank.com/research/2211/documents/en/real-estate-sentiment-index-q1-2021-indian-real-estate-residentialoffice-7982.pdf

Wood product price indices rise
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has reported the
official Wholesale Price Index for “All Commodities”
(Base: 2011-12=100) for March increased to 129.3 from
127.3 in February 2021.

The annual year on year rate of inflation stood at 7.39% in
March however, month-on-month the March rate of
inflation stood at 1.57%. Prices of crude oil, petroleum
products and basic metal substantially increased in March
2021 as compared to the corresponding month of last year.
Due to the nationwide lockdown the WPI index for all
coomodities was computed with relatively low response
rate. Out of the 22 manufactured products tracked 16
groups saw increased prices and among this group was
furniture and wood and of products of wood and cork.

The press release from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
can be found at: http://eaindustry.nic.in/cmonthly.pdf

7. VIETNAM

  Industry gains new foothold in global market
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic wood and
wooden product exports posted impressive growth in the
first quarter of 2021 due to the efforts of many businesses
to apply advanced technology, develop new products and
make use of online marketing channels.

Nguyen Chanh Phuong, Vice Chairman of the Handicraft
and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City
(HAWA), said that by tapping into its production
advantages and emerging market opportunities Vietnam
has surpassed Poland, Germany, and Italy to become the
world”s second-largest wood and wooden product
exporter behind China.

He explained that the COVID-19 pandemic forced people
in many countries and regions, especially the US, the EU,
Japan, and the Republic of Korea, all major importers of
Vietnamese wooden items, to work from home leading to
greater demand for home furniture.

In addition, he said, many international buyers have
switched to Vietnamese suppliers as the country has a safe
production environment. Vietnam”s wood and furniture
businesses are also relatively accomplished at recognising
and seizing market opportunities.

Tran Lam Son, Director of marketing and quality
management at the Thien Minh Furniture Company,
pointed out that the recent shift in global wood product
and furniture supply chains has benefited Vietnam.

International buyers have increasingly valued the
production capacity, design, and technology of
Vietnamese wood producers. Moreover, due to supply
chain disruptions caused by COVID-19, global distributors
now tend to diversify and seek safer supply sources.

Pham Thi Hong Quang, General Director of the Viet
Source Handicraft Co. Ltd, revealed that her company”s
revenue soared 40% last year despite the tense
developments from coronavirus outbreak. The number of
orders in the opening months of this year continued to rise
as foreign importers began stockpiling products to prepare
for the end on restriction on peoples movement.

See: Vietnam”s wood industry gains new foothold in global
market | Business | Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus)

Rising raw material costs
According to Nguyen Liem, General Director of Lam Viet
JSC Co. Ltd. a manufacturer of wooden chairs, boards and
beds for export prices for imported timber have increased
by 10-25% since July last year depending on the source.

The Vietnam Administration of Forestry in the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development estimated the wood
import value of wood in the first three months of 2021 was
almost US$700 million, up 31% from a year earlier. The
rise is the result of increased demand as well as higher
FOB and transport costs.

Vietnamese imports of timber come mainly from 5
countries; China, the United States, Cameroon, Thailand
and Chile which account for over 50% of the total value of
imports.

See: https://vietnamnet.vn//en/business/lack-of-raw-materialsthreaten-wood-prices-726183.html#inner-article

Prices of domestic FSC timber falling
Tran Thien, Director of Thanh Hoa Co., Ltd,. commented
that despite developing a certified wood material zone
with international support, FSC certified afforestation is
losing its gloss as forest owners cannot make a profit from
their FSC timber. He said the price of FSC timber is
falling and is down around 5% currently and is likely to
trend lower.

However, Thanh Hoa, one of the largest wood material
suppliers in Vietnam, cannot purchase this certified timber
which is found mainly in the northern provinces due to
problems with regulations and high transport costs.

Vietnam has around 300,000 hectares of FSC forest but,
says Thien, “the surplus of such wood is a big problem” as
most wooden furnituremakers do not buy FSC wood.

Thien also said FSC evaluation cost are high with the cost
for initial evaluations coming close to US$100,000 and the
annual assessment can be as much as US$5,000, a big
expense for small forest growers especially as they see
their income declining. In the Central Province of Quang
Ngai many growers have dropped the annual FSC
assessment to save money.

See: https://vietnamnet.vn/en/business/wood-exporters-facearray-of-obstructions-727743.html

Bright outlook for domestic timber industry
Nguyen Quoc Khanh, President of the Handicraft and
Wood Industry Association (HAWA), said at a recent
conference of entrepreneurs and the Prime Minister
Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vietnam should develop a generation
of young entrepreneurs in the timber industry and consider
it a sector for startups.

Khanh said the sector has achieved the five-year target set
by the Prime Minister in 2018 two years in advance.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic Vietnam earned
US$13.17 billion from wood exports in 2020 up 16.4%
year-on-year. He stressed that the timber industry was the
only industry in Vietnam that achieved double-digit
growth over the past 18 years. According to Khanh, about
1 million laborers are working in the sector and the
number is predicted to stand at around 2-3 million by
2045.

Khanh expressed his belief that the sector can maintain the
strong growth and its present position in world markets in
the next decades if it continues to engage in environmental
protection, steps up afforestation and ensures markets for
farmers timber and forest products.

Khanh also suggested an emphasis on technology and
digital transformation will aid adding vaule to forest
products.

 
See: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/bright-outlook-for-domestictimber-industry/197343.vnp

Online trade promotion here to stay
Bui Thi Thanh An, Vice Director of the Trade Promotion
Agency at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said nearly
50 national-level trade promotion programmes were
cancelled or postponed last year due to the pandemic and
this undermined export growth and the economy. To
address this challenge the agency has quickly adopted
information technology (IT) and changed how trade
promotion activities are held.

More than 500 international online trade conferences have
now been organized, along with more than 1 million
online trade exchanges.These events helped connect more
than 2,000 businesses with foreign partners in different
markets, An said.

The agency has also made use of social networks and
Vietnamese trade offices abroad to support businesses
seeking markets. Although online trade promotion has
become more common and was initially considered a
temporary solution it seems this approach will be a key
element of trade promotion.

See: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/online-trade-promotion-helpsbusinesses-adapt-to-covid19/196086.vnp

Keep up to date on laws and regulations to avoid
commercial risks in US market
The US market for wood products is predicted to grow and
offer opportunities for Vietnamese firms to expand market
share. This was expressed at a recent online conference
organised by the Handicrafts and Wood Industry
Association.

Nguyen Hoai Bao, a member of the HAWA executive
board, said the US is among the most demanding markets
in terms of product origin and legality so he advised
Vietnamese companies to keep up to date on relevant laws
and regulations to avoid commercial risks.

Julie Hundersmarck, a specialist at the US Forest Service
International Program, said US importers have a
preference for supplies from Asia including Vietnam and
that the US Forest Service is developing techniques for
wood verification to support Vietnam in better controlling
the origin and legality of wood products exported.

See: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/us-market-offers-great-potentialfor-vietnamese-craft-wood-firms/197150.vnp

8. BRAZIL

  Exchange rate
The average commercial exchange rate at the end of
March 2021 stood at BRL5.65/US$, a depreciation of
4.2% of the Brazilian currency against the US dollar
compared to the average exchange rate in February 2021.
In March the Central Bank of Brazil increased the basic
interest rate (Selic) to 2.75% per year. This decision lifts
the Selic for the first time since 2015 when it was raised
from 13.75 to 14.25 percent a year.

Partnership with Embrapa for direction of forest
management
The Center for Timber Producers and Exporters of Mato
Grosso State (CIPEM) recently met with representatives of
the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation
(EMBRAPA) to identify the next steps in studies on forest
management and also the elaboration of projects that
encourage and provide greater transparency in forest
management practices.

One of the main topics during meeting was the proposed
study of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) of Ipê
(Tabebuia spp) which will be used as a model to develop
SFM for other commercial species.

The partnership signed between CIPEM and EMBRAPA
aims to present forest management as a sustainable and
essential activity to society. Another objective is to
promote the revision and reformulation of norms and rules
that regulate forest activities.

CIPEM, together with the Timber Industry Union of
Northern Mato Grosso State (SINDUSMAD) and other
forestry stakeholders in Mato Grosso State believe that it
is essential to continue the partnership with EMBRAPA.

Amazon Plan 2021/2022 approved
Resolution No. 3 approving the “Amazon Plan
2021/2022” was published on 9 April 2021. The objective
is to continue the measures/actions to protect the Amazon
after the end of Operation Green Brazil 2 (Operação Verde
Brasil 2) which is scheduled to end 30 April.

The objective of the Amazon Plan 2021/2022 is to
promote measures and establish guidelines for the
continuation of actions of the Federal government to
inspect and combat illegal activities, particularly illegal
deforestation and forest fires in the Amazon forests.

The Amazon Plan 2021/2022 establishes guidelines for
actions to be carried out at the Federal level and includes
encouraging partnerships with states and municipalities.

The actions foreseen in the Amazon Plan 2021/2022
include:

 containment of illegal activities harming the
environment and illegal land use in the priority
regions

 redirecting the process of inspection and
designation of responsibilities according to the
competence of each agency

 promoting civic and social actions in support of
the people living in the Amazon for example,
health, hygiene education and technical
assistance

The Ministry of the Environment has highlighted the
importance of the Amazon Plan 2021/2022 and the
involvement of the states to reduce deforestation and
combat illegal activities.

The Amazon Plan establishes priority areas for
coordinated actions by agencies in the Legal Amazon with
an increase in the effectiveness of inspection and the fight
against environmental crimes and the strengthening and
integration of environmental agencies. The agencies
include the Federal Police, IBAMA (Brazilian Institute for
Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), ICMBio
(Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation),
the Federal Highway Police, Armed Forces and State
Military Police.

Export update
In March 2021 Brazilian exports of wood-based products
(except pulp and paper) increased 24% in value compared
to March 2020, from US$259.2 million to US$321.9
million.

Pine sawnwood exports grew 26% in value between
March 2020 (US$39 million) and March 2021 (US$49
million). The volume of pine sawnwood exports increased
17% over the same period, from 213,400 cu.m to 249,400
cu.m.

Tropical sawnwood exports increased 14% in volume
from 34,000 cu.m in March 2020 to 38,700 cu.m in March
2021. In value terms exports rose 3.5% from US$14.4
million to US$15 million, over the same period.

Pine plywood exports surged in March this year by just
over 81% in value in comparison with March 2020, from
US$43 million to US$78 million. However export
volumes increased by just 14% over the same period, from
182,400 cu.m to 208,100 cu.m.

As for tropical plywood, exports increased in volume
(41.3%) and in value (40.0%), from 4,600 cu.m (US$2
million) in March 2020 to 6,500 cu.m (US$2.8 million) in
March 2021.

March was a good month for wooden furniture exports
where export earnings increased from US$46.2 million in
March 2020 to US$63.2 million in March 2021, an almost
40% jump.

Trade facilitation between Brazil and the United States
An initiative in the National Congress that calls for
development and approval of Trade Facilitation Protocols
and Good Regulatory Practices between Brazil and the
United States is being championed by the Brazilian
National Confederation of Industry (CNI), Amcham Brazil
and the US Chamber of Commerce.

This initiative has the support of 32 business entities
including the Brazilian Association of Mechanically-
Processed Timber Industry (ABIMCI) representing the
industrial timber sector.

By sending a joint letter to the Executive Office of the
President of Brazil the institutions ask for swift action in
sending the request to the National Congress so that the
review of these protocols can begin.

Protocols concluded in October 2020 provide, among
other issues, the implementation of efficient and
transparent customs procedures, cost reduction,
cooperation in the area of trade facilitation and customs
inspection and reduction of trade bureaucracies between
the two countries.

As for good regulatory practices, the protocols address the
need for public consultations on new regulations, setting
deadlines for submitting contributions, mechanisms for
assessing the need for regulatory changes and publishing
the regulatory agenda.

Pará State and German delegation discuss financing
climate agenda
In search of partnerships to obtain international funds to
finance projects that contribute to the Amazon climate
agenda the government of Pará, in partnership with the
State Secretariat of the Environment (SEMA) and the Pará
State Forestry and Biodiversity Development Institute
(Ideflor-Bio), participated in a videoconference with
representatives of the KfW (German Development Bank)
and the German Embassy.

KfW offers a credit line, financing projects aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, it works
to strengthen SEMA”s strategies and actions in three areas
such as renewable energies, energy efficiency, protection
and sustainable use of tropical forests and sanitation and
urban mobility.

9. PERU

  Exports of veneer and furniture
According to information provided by the Association of
Exporters (ADEX) in January this year exports of veneers
and plywood reached US$0.25 million FOB, up slightly
year on year. The only market for these products was
Mexico.

Furniture exports during January 2021 totalled US$0.13
million FOB down over 50% year on year. The main
export markets for during January were the US which
accounted for almost three quarters of all furniture exports
followed by Chile which took another 20%.

Furniture exports to the US in January were down 57%
while exports to Chile jumped over 100%.

Ten cedar species in Peru, four are endemic
Peru has 10 of the 17 species of cedar that exist throughout
its range in the Neotropics (from Mexico to Argentina)
which places the country at the centre of diversity for this
species. This was revealed in the recent study by the
National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor) called
“Situational status of the genus Cedrela in Peru”. Another
point made in the report is that of the 10 species found in
Peru, four are endemic.

The endemic species are Cedrela kuelapensis, C.
longipetiolulata, C. weberbaueri and C. molinensis.

This first investigation provides Serfor with accurate data
on the ten species present in Peru and provides a sound
base for their conservation and management.

The species of the genus Cedrela are highly valued in
world the markets as the timber is easy to work, is
aromatic, repels insects and resists rot. It is used to
manufacture furniture, musical instruments, doors and an
variety of products.

Tough new wildlife law approved
On 12 April the Government approved “Regulation of
Infractions and Sanctions in Forest Matters and Wild
Fauna” which establishes financial penalties for noncompliance
with forest and wildlife legislation.

The regulation also establishes the authority for sanctions
and confiscation of specimens, products or by-products of
forest and wild fauna for which their legal origin cannot be
proven or that come from unauthorised extraction,
hunting, collection or capture.