Sustainability – for Europe’s timber industry this has long been more than just a declaration of intent. It has become a central criterion in the purchasing process, and for more and more customers it is now a fixed requirement of their wood products. And law-makers at both national and European level have set strict criteria as to the origin of imported timber – as, for instance, in the European Timber Regulation (EUTR). The EUTR requires anyone supplying timber or timber products for the first time on the EU market to assess the potential risks related to the products (origin, species, etc.) and mitigate those risks if necessary.
Nowadays practically all European forestry businesses and wood processing companies have subscribed to a voluntary, independent certification system, thus acknowledging the principles and criteria of responsible forest management. The most important criteria are reforestation and socially responsible, sustainable use of forests. Paramount among international certifications are the PEFC and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®).
In Europe and the rest of the world, the demand for tropical wood is concentrated on a small number of species such as mahogany, teak, bangkirai and meranti. The popularity of these woods has led to intense exploitation of these resources as well as rising prices. It is not only for sustainability reasons that a growing number of less familiar and lesser used tropical woods are becoming the main focus of economic interest. This opens new opportunities for wood companies from Peru. With their good weathering properties, Peruvian tropical hardwoods are especially suitable for exterior uses such as decking and garden furniture. This is why these woods are very popular in rainy Northern, Western and Eastern Europe.
Sustainability certification such as FSC® is now crucial if you want to export your tropical woods to Europe. You are not FSC® certified yet? The IPD will support you in this process if you fulfil our criteria - thus smoothing your path to the European markets.
Timber exporters from Indonesia, too, have increasing good prospects on the European market. The light, fast-growing woods from this island state satisfy customers’ demands for an environmentally friendly and quickly renewable resource. Lightweight wood products from Indonesia are also much sought-after because of their particular material properties when used as a composite product in combination with tropical wood varieties. Whether in furniture or interior construction, wood from Indonesia is in great demand in Europe.
Bamboo has been increasingly used as a substitute for tropical timber in the European market. Value-added bamboo products are becoming popular due to their characteristics of durability and strength, which resemble the qualities of tropical wood, thus providing an interesting alternative. As natural teak resources are becoming scarce, plantation teak products have become an option for European timber traders.
The Import Promotion Desk will support you on your way to the European market.
BULLETIN BOARD "TECHNICAL WOOD"
Tropical timber doors and frames are a popular product group in Germany and can provide opportunities to exporters in developing countries. Despite the economic downturn, doors and frames that incorporate added value through sustainability certification, unique design and competitive pricing, will be a top consumer preference.
Bamboo has been increasingly used as a substitute for tropical timber in the European market. Value-added bamboo products are becoming popular due to their characteristics of durability and strength, which resemble the qualities of tropical wood, while providing a more sustainable alternative. The European market offers great opportunities to exporters from developing countries and it is recommended that they focus on competitive prices and sustainability certifications.
Despite the economic recession, the German market for tropical timber decking remains stable, providing great opportunities for exporters in developing countries (DCs). Exporters need to be innovative and promote the natural features of their product, especially as the legal requirements implemented are complicating imports of tropical timber in Europe. Nevertheless, tropical timber decking is popular among German consumers who appreciate its aesthetic and durability features.
The UK is a very important EU market for certified tropical timber garden furniture, providing several opportunities for exporters in developing countries (DCs). In order to optimise such opportunities, obtaining sustainability certifications and engaging in long-term relationships with your buyers in the UK is essential. Additionally, with the constrained supply of currently popular species, such as Teak and Mahogany, future prospects lie in marketing the beneficial properties of lesser known, alternative tropical timber species.
IPD OPENS UP NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERUVIAN TIMBER EXPORTERS ON THE EU MARKET
The tropical rainforest is at risk from overexploitation and fire clearance, and this has brought trading in tropical timber into disrepute. Timber companies from countries like Peru therefore encounter difficulties in exporting their tropical wood products to the EU market. They are supported by the Import Promotion Desk (IPD), the precondition being that their timber is verifiably sourced from legal and sustainable forestry. Maderacre Rio Acre SAC is a company that meets the criteria of the FSC, demonstrating in practice that responsible forest management can help to protect the rainforest.
The Import Promotion Desk (IPD) and its partners in Peru support responsibly operating companies in their efforts to export certified timber products to Europe. An essential part of IPD’s work is to create awareness of European quality and sustainability standards in Peru’s private and public sectors. At the same time, the IPD provides German importers with an alternative buying market, which will allow them to optimise their purchasing activities and increase their product variety. In this way, international development cooperation and import promotion go hand in hand.
It is widely known that the Amazon rainforest is one of the most diverse tropical forest ecosystems in the world, hosting several hundred timber tree species. However, the over-exploitation of only a few commercially valuable species - mainly driven by restricted consumer demand - has imposed severe pressure on the forests. Reducing the market pressure over this small group of commercial timber species is a major challenge for forest concessionaires, who strive to manage their forests in a responsible yet economically
viable manner. Several lesser used timber species - some of them already being traded at local market level - often hold similar physical features and mechanical properties as internationally known commercial species.
On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Import Promotion Desk (IPD) have joined efforts in
Peru. Together with the national export promotion agency PromPerú and the Peruvian Trade Office in Hamburg, a set of promising lesser used timber species for the German market have been identified together with Peruvian forest companies producing these species in a responsible and sustainable manner.
To promote these species and companies within the German market, data sheets have been developed that describe the characteristics and applications of 10 lesser used timber species from Peru. This brochure presents a contact list of Peruvian suppliers offering these timber species.
Indonesia’s timber legality assurance system or the SVLK (Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu) was developed to ensure sustainability of Indonesia’s forests by promoting legal trade of timber. This system was developed since 2001 through multi-stakeholders consultations involving civil society, the government and the private sector.
The SVLK provides incentives for legality and sustainability by promoting market access for verified legal products and blocking market access for illegal products. The SVLK also promotes broader governance reforms, such as improved information, transparency, capacity, and community rights.
Under the SVLK, Indonesian timber is deemed legal when its origin, production, processing, transport and trade are verified meeting all applicable Indonesian laws and regulations.
