The UNECE/FAO Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2009-2010 has been published, along with forest products data for 2009. The Review covers forest products market and policy developments in the UNECE region of Europe, North America and the CIS. The theme of the Review theme is Innovation for structural change recovery. The publication illustrates how a structural change has occurred in the forest sector, and how the sector is adapting and innovating for short-term survival and long-term growth.

The consumption of wood and paper products fell by 11.6% in the UNECE region in 2009, the largest year-on-year drop since the oil crisis of the 1970s. The main cause of this decline, after the 8.5% drop registered in 2008, was the continuing negative impact on the sector of the 2008-2009 global economic and financial crisis, which has seen US housing starts collapse and a severe downturn in Europe. Housing starts in the Russian Federation fell as well in 2009, the first such fall following a period of steady growth. Building construction and related demand for wooden interior furnishings are the main drivers for forest product markets.

The early signs of an upturn in demand and production of sawnwood and paper in 2010 reinforce the Timber Committee forecast that markets hit the bottom in 2009 and would improve. The Committee will forecast markets for 2011 at the October session.

UNECE press release

UNECE/FAO Forest Products Annual Market Review 2009-2010