Drop in demand for sawn timber prompts Coillte cutbacks

A 40% drop in demand for sawn timber in Ireland has hit the forest industry, according to Coillte.

Demand has fallen from 1.8 million to one million cubic metres, according to David Gunning, chief executive of the state forestry company.

He told the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that Coillte is scaling back production in their forests, and will introduce temporary lay-offs until the end of the year at SmartPly, in Waterford Port, which produces oriented strand board. It is expected to close for one week every month for the rest of the year.