Coillte reports phenomenal 40-fold rise in exports since early 2009

FORESTRY products company Coillte has experienced a phenomenal 40-fold increase in exports since early 2009.

Construction sawn-wood exports from Irish saw mills have risen from 5,000m at the start of 2009, to an annualised 200,000m for 2010. Coillte has also exported up to 120 truckloads of wood-based panel products every day this year.

The company also plans to add further value by expanding its range of products in 2010. Demand for Irish forestry products is expected to continue to grow during 2011, analysis which has brought great seasonal cheer to the domestic wood processing sector in Ireland.

Richard Lowe, head of sales and marketing at Coillte’s forest division, said: “Working closely with our customers, the Irish sawmills, and with the support of Enterprise Ireland, we have created an awareness and appreciation of Irish timber in the UK amongst the timber supply chain.

“We have done this by maintaining our log supply in difficult market conditions, through a focused media campaign and by being visible at events like last month’s BEST Build Show in Birmingham, where we were showcasing Irish timber with our customers.

“As buyers become more aware of environmental issues, there is increasing pressure on industry to assure customers that the products they buy are not only fit for purpose, but are also environmentally friendly. Certification and conformity to standards is a key component of providing that assurance for customers.”

Despite the domestic downturn in the Irish construction industry, certified wood-based construction material is in high demand internationally, with exports to Britain rising substantially over the past two-year period, partly as other suppliers withdrew from that market.

In Ireland, the forestry sector as a whole is responsible for the employment of about 16,000 people and it is hoped that a renewed focus on international business and exports will help to increase this number. The international demand for wood products is especially strong for Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified construction material, which is what Coillte supplies from its forests.

In addition to the exports of timber by Irish sawmills, Coillte’s Panel Products division, which manufactures SmartPly Oriented Strand Board (OSB) in Waterford and Medite Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) in Clonmel, has also seen a strong export performance in its products in 2010.

Coillte Panel Products exports approximately 90% of the Medite and SmartPly it produces in Ireland and has seen an improvement in the British and European markets during 2010. Coillte Panel Products is seeing increased sales for their range of products and has also continued to export niche high value products to the US, Singapore and as far as Australia, to meet the specific needs of architects and specifiers for innovative panel products.

Coillte Panel Products exports between 80 and 120 truckloads of wood-based panel products every day to international markets and has been expanding its range of products in 2010. The company recently exported the first shipment of its newest product, Medite Ultralite, a wood product developed at the Medite plant in Clonmel.

The product, which was designed as an ultra-lightweight and versatile wood-based panel will be used in Britain and elsewhere in Europe to supply panels for the exhibition, television, theatre and film trades, aircraft and shipping industries, and for lightweight ceiling and indoor wall coverings.