Timber Prices - Worldwide Logs & Lumber, Wood Products Prices Index

International Log & Sawnwood Prices

16-31th May 2004

International Log Prices

Sarawak Log Prices

FOB per Cu.m

Meranti SQ up US$170-175

small US$140-145

super small US$105-110

Keruing SQ up US$160-165

small US$130-135

super small US$100-105

Kapur SQ up US$140-150

Selangan Batu SQ up US$155-160

Francophone West African Log Prices

The market for W. African logs has strengthened further with price gains for several species and prices are generally very firm for both European and for Asian buyers. There are a few differences in price trends for the two major markets with Asian prices for Bibolo, Limba/Frake and Padouk slightly lower than for the European market.

French buyers have now also accepted the higher prices, having slightly misjudged the market and, like China, held off purchases at previous low market price point. As noted during April, buyers for China are paying the recently improved price levels and demand is said to be very good.

In Gabon the usual March to May rains have not yet arrived and this has allowed harvesting to continue. Loggers are saying that they have been able to continue work and volumes for this usually very quiet and wet period are between two and three times the level normally achievable at this time of the year.

Overall shippers say that demand is strong and that the shipping situation has improved, though rates are somewhat variable and subject to negotiation. Major shipping lines call at Douala and also at Libreville/Owendo.

Reports are circulating that Gabon's State log marketing organization is still facing some financial difficulties and this is reflected in late payments to exporters which is causing some cash flow problems for the companies.

FOB LM B BC/C

Euro per Cu.m

Afromosia/Assamela 381 350 -

Acajou/N'Gollon 206 191 -

Ayous/Obeche 175 160 106

Azobe 168 145 114

Bibolo/Dibtou 152 114 -

Movingui 206 190 175

Fromager/Ceiba 114 114 -

Iroko 351 320 241

Limba/Frake 137 114 99

Moabi 244 221 206

Padouk 206 206 -

Sapelli 259 244 206

Sipo/Utile 274 259 -

Tali 144 129 91

Doussie 427 335 274

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

Veneer Quality FOB per Hoppus Ton

March April

2nd Quality No sale No sale

3rd Quality Euro3532 No Sale

4th Quality Euro3187 Euro3298

(30 tons)

Teak Logs March April

Sawing Quality per Hoppus Ton

Grade 1

Average Euro2020 Euro2163

(40 tons)

Grade 2

Average Euro1662 Euro1750

(110 tons)

Grade 3

Average Euro600 Euro648

(425 tons)

Grade 4

Average Euro987 Euro1055

(1185 tons)

Assorted

Average Euro614 Euro677

(1675 tons)

Domestic Log Prices

Brazil

Logs at mill yard per Cu.m

Mahogany Ist Grade No Sales

Ipe US$64

Jatoba US$42

Guaruba US$27

Mescla(white virola) US$34

Indonesia

Domestic log prices per Cu.m

Plywood logs

Face Logs US$90-95

Core logs US$55-70

Sawlogs(Meranti) US$95-105

Falkata logs US$90-95

Rubberwood US$85-90

Pine US$90-100

Mahoni US$500-515

Peninsula Malaysia

Logs

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

DR Meranti US$190-195

Balau US$170-180

Merbau US$205-215

Rubberwood US$80-85

Keruing US$165-175

Ghana

per Cu.m

Wawa US$33-41

Odum US$77-175

Ceiba US$27-53

Chenchen US$33-88

Mahogany

(Veneer Qual.) US$49-160

Sapele US$55-154

Makore

(Veneer Qual.) US$55-154

Peru

International Sawnwood

Francophone West Africa

Sawnwood prices remain stable despite the recent increases in export log prices. This may be, in part, due to the competition between the main mills and the small "bush sawmill" operations. These small millers buy logs from communities and family holdings and often use chain-saws to produce rough sawn lumber which is then sent to planing mills to be milled to standard sizes.

Analysts point out that prices for this type of product are lower than from the regular larger mills and buyers from France, Spain and Portugal are purchasing quite significant volumes of this material.

In general sawnwood production is steady and production levels are well matched to the current rather better demand levels. Producer price offers for future contracts are reported as firm to very firm.

FOB per Cu.m

Okoume Euro

FAS GMS 266

Standard and Better 251

FAS Fixed Sizes 297

Sipo

FAS Standard Sizes 640

FAS Fixed Sizes 670

Sapelli

FAS 487

Dibtou

FAS Standard Sizes 381

FAS Fixed Sizes 412

Iroko

FAS GMS 548

Scantlings 487

Strips 274

Khaya

FAS GMS 398

Brazil

FOB Belem/Paranagua Ports

Export Sawnwood per Cu.m

Mahogany KD FAS FOB

UK market no trade

Jatoba Green (dressed) US$530

Cambara KD US$445

Asian Market(green)

Guaruba US$240

Angelim pedra US$270

Mandioqueira US$185

Pine (AD) US$125

Malaysia

Sawn Timber

Export(FOB) per Cu.m

White Meranti A & Up US$300-315

Seraya

Scantlings (75x125 KD) US$650-690

Sepetir Boards US$185-190

K.Sesendok 25,50mm US$375-380

Ghana

FOB Euro per Cu.m

Afromosia 855

Asanfina 480

Ceiba 180

Dahoma 300

Edinam 360

Khaya 480

Makore 449

Odum 580

Sapele 480

Wawa 300

Peru

Freight Increases hit Exporters

Peruvian timber exporters are worried because of the ever increasing cost of ocean freight, especially to China. According to Chinese importers rates are so high that they are now impacting trade flows.

Shipping agents explain that vessels that are scheduled to sail from Callao to Asia are now full with minerals, fish-flour, wine and fruits and that it is difficult to get container space for mouldings and other wood products for China.

For US Market per Cu.m

Mahogany 1C&B, KD 16%

Central American market US$1170-1200

Mahogany 1C&B, KD 16%

US market US$1200-1230

Spanish Cedar No.1 C&B,

KD 16%,

Central Am. Market US$615-630

Walnut 1" Thickness,

6' - 11' length US$625-660

Spanish cedar # 1 C&B,

KD 16% Mexican market US$625-635

Pumaquiro 25-50mm AD

Mexican market US$460-490

Virola 1" to 1 1/2

Thickness, 6' - 8'

length, KD US$400-430

Lagarto 2" Thickness,

6' - 8' length US$345-365

Ishpingo 2"

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

Domestic Sawnwood Prices

Report from Brazil

Sawnwood (Green ex-mill)

Northern Mills per Cu.m

Mahogany No sales

Ipe US$282

Jatoba US$205

Southern Mills

Eucalyptus AD US$105

Pine (KD) First Grade US$134

Report from Indonesia

Sawn timber, ex-mill

Domestic construction material

Kampar per Cu.m

AD 3x12-15x400cm US$215-225

KD US$285-295

AD 3x20x400cm US$310-315

KD US$325-330

Keruing

AD 3x12-15cmx400 US$230-235

AD 2x20cmx400 US$225-235

AD 3x30cmx400 US$240-255

Malaysia

Sawnwood per Cu.m

Balau(25&50mm,100mm+)

US$235-245

Kempas50mm by

(75,100&125mm) US$175-180

Rubberwood

25x75x660mm up US$225-235

50-75mm Sq. US$235-240

100mm sq. US$245-255

Ghana

Sawnwood per Cu.m

Wawa 25x300x4.2m US$63

Emeri 25x300x4.2m US$70

Ceiba 25x300x4.2m US$53

Dahoma 50x150x4.2m US$113

Redwood 50x50x4.2m US$94

Ofram 50x50x4.4m US$73

Peru

per Cu.m

Mahogany US$1490-1500

Virola US$183-198

Spanish Cedar US$620-630

Catahua US$174-180

Tornillo US$352-360

Source:ITTO