http://www.risiinfo.comThe leading information provider for the global forest products industryen-usSat, 5 Jul 2008 20:49:08 -0400Copyright 2008 RISI, Inc.http://www.risiinfo.com/community/images/Risi_logo.jpghttp://www.risiinfo.com14428Visit www.risiinfo.comhttp://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/The-making-of-theRISI-Power-List.html?source=rssThe July issue of PPI magazine has just landed on my desk, and I just have to say what a groundbreaking issue it is! For the first time in the history of the global industry we have put together a list of the top 50 players who influence the world of pulp and paper. The final list is a diverse mix of those that wield power and have influence, but more importantly it is those that can cause industrial sized, worldwide ripples with a casual throwaway line or a couple of strokes of a pen. http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/The-making-of-theRISI-Power-List.html?source=rssThu, 3 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Canfor-Pulp-cuts-maintenance-costs-by-twenty-percent.html?source=rssThe pulp and paper industry is under pressure. And Canadian producers have particular pressures that have forced some mills to close. Competition from hardwood pulp producers and the huge commodity mills in Asia is intensifying, exchange rates and fiber costs are high, and energy costs are increasing.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Canfor-Pulp-cuts-maintenance-costs-by-twenty-percent.html?source=rssWed, 2 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/The-next-steps-in-enzymatic-stickies-control.html?source=rssThe use of recycled fibre in the manufacture of tissue, paper and paperboard is increasing worldwide. Unfortunately with the recycled fibre come the problems with stickies.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/The-next-steps-in-enzymatic-stickies-control.html?source=rssTue, 1 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-Production-cutbacks-lag-dwindling-US-consumption.html?source=rss"Prices aren't going to zero" is an adage tossed about the wood products industry when weak markets throw prices into a seemingly never-ending downward spiral. It assumes that as prices drop, so too will production rates. As less lumber is produced, a greater degree of equilibrium between supply and demand will then emerge and prices will firm. It is exactly what has occurred since housing starts began their plunge from seasonally adjusted annual rates above the 2 million mark to rates now below the 1 million mark.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-Production-cutbacks-lag-dwindling-US-consumption.html?source=rssMon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-Innovate-or-Die-What-North-American-lumber-producers-are-doing-to-limit-losses.html?source=rssForget turning a profit, North American dimension lumber producers are struggling just to stay afloat. It should come as no surprise that the market for lumber products has gone from bad to horrible to worse and continues to degrade.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-Innovate-or-Die-What-North-American-lumber-producers-are-doing-to-limit-losses.html?source=rssFri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-Coated-mechanical-inventories-surge-as-battle-lines-are-drawn-for-upcoming-price-hikes.html?source=rssRISI has been predicting a major reversal of the trend in North American coated mechanical paper "apparent" consumption, and the new data that was just released by the PPPC show that the turnaround showed up with a vengeance in May. The year-to-date figures had been up 3.4% though April, which was perplexing given all of the weakness in the major end-use markets such as magazines and catalogs. Despite this weakness, these end-users continued to buy paper, amassing a sizable inventory, while their true consumption of paper plunged.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-Coated-mechanical-inventories-surge-as-battle-lines-are-drawn-for-upcoming-price-hikes.html?source=rssThu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-A-Delicate-Balance.html?source=rssIt was an unexpected treasure to find the subject of forest products logistics in the mainstream press, especially in such a prominent weekly as TIME magazine. The article, titled “A Port That Exports,” by Justin Fox in the June 9th issue, covers Georgia’s Port of Savannah continued rise in exports, based in no small part on the strength of forest products – wood pulp, paper and paperboard. It was even more interesting that Mr. Fox suggested the trend at this one port could help reshape the U.S. trade deficit.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-A-Delicate-Balance.html?source=rssWed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-pulp-and-paper-safety-association-awards.html?source=rssI had the distinct honor and pleasure of being a presenter at the Pulp and Paper Safety Association awards banquet that was held on June 11th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pulp & Paper Safety Association is a non-profit, non-political, international organization, devoted to the continuous improvement of safety throughout all aspects of the paper industry. http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-pulp-and-paper-safety-association-awards.html?source=rssTue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-Inventing-more-uses-for-paper.html?source=rssMy attention was drawn earlier this week to a CNN news report about a bicycle made of board. Phil Bridge, a student at Sheffield Hallam University, UK, has designed the prototype of a bike made from Hexacomb, a kraft linerboard-based product manufactured by the company, Pregis. The main components of Bridge’s bicycyle – the frame, forks and wheels – are paperboard, and designed to be replaced (for free) every six months. Other key elements – steel wheel rims, crankset and tires – are made of traditional, hardier materials and would have a standard lifetime. http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-Inventing-more-uses-for-paper.html?source=rssMon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/BLOG-East-meets-West.html?source=rssIt was a busy and exciting month as I attended two important events in the paper and pulp industry – SPCI in Stockholm and also the 9th RISI Asian Pulp and Paper Outlook Conference in Shanghai.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/BLOG-East-meets-West.html?source=rssFri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/blog-Will-China-become-Asias-next-major-containerboard-exporting-country.html?source=rssNumerous hot topics were addressed at the recently completed RISI Asian Pulp & Paper Outlook Conference in Shanghai including: the high price of oil and coal, the weakening US dollar and the seemingly non-stop rise in prices for recovered paper. But one additional topic I frequently heard from both Chinese containerboard producers and major international paper traders was how difficult it has become for Chinese mills to export their containerboard, especially since April 2008 when the Chinese government announced their latest policy on the so-called "process trade" practice.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/blog-Will-China-become-Asias-next-major-containerboard-exporting-country.html?source=rssThu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/finland-metso-trip.html?source=rssI got back to Brazil two weeks ago from the Metso Press Survivors Trip 2008 within Sweden and Finland visiting several pulp and paper mills as well as Metso’s plants. Seven editors from different countries joined the trip and we exchanged a lot of worthwhile information about the pulp and paper market.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/finland-metso-trip.html?source=rssWed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/whats-love-got-to-do-with-it.html?source=rss"I think I started maturing as a manager when I discovered that one of the oldest principles of organizational management was hogwash. That principle is stated in many ways, but the military guys used to put it best:'Nobody gets special treatment here.' "http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/whats-love-got-to-do-with-it.html?source=rssTue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Forest-products-imports-lashed-by-currency-fluctuations.html?source=rssIn the first four months of this year, the U.S. has imported a total of 14.6 million m3 of forest products. This volume includes everything from doors to matchsticks, mouldings to cooperage. Despite the impressive sound of the number, it is almost 32% less than the volume of forest products imported during the first four months of 2007. It is rendered almost insignificant when compared with the 27.9 million m3 imported during the first four months of 2006. Not coincidentally, perhaps, the 49.6% drop from the 2006 volume tracks very closely with the decline in housing since January 2006, when the housing boom began to go bust.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Forest-products-imports-lashed-by-currency-fluctuations.html?source=rssMon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/flying-high.html?source=rssAs well as it being baseball season, in this industry, it’s also conference season. I’m just back from TAPPI/PIMA’s very successful PaperCon in Dallas as well as Sweden for SPCI, still the world’s largest exhibition/conference, as SPCI celebrates its 100th anniversary. I’m also set to go to Quebec City for the International Pulp Bleaching Conference. And, that’s just three of a lengthy list of planned events. If we wanted, I’m sure our staff could attend a conference virtually every week in spring.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/flying-high.html?source=rssFri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-Consolidation-ahead-in-the-Brazilian-pulp-industry.html?source=rssDespite the appreciation of the Brazilian Real, Brazil's net exports of bleached hardwood kraft (BHK) increased by 373,000 tonnes in 2007, settling at 6.1 million tonnes, mainly as a result of capacity expansions in Brazil and shutdowns in Europe and North America. An export tax on softwood and hardwood logs in Russia and supply disruptions in Indonesia have also helped to keep the global market tighter than it otherwise would be, which has supported Brazil's export levels. Europe remains as the key growth market for South American BHK. In 2007, exports to Europe corresponded to roughly 50% of South America's BHK total exports; another 28% was delivered to Asia, and approximately 17% to North America.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-Consolidation-ahead-in-the-Brazilian-pulp-industry.html?source=rssThu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/From-Treasure-Island-to-Mr-Bumbles-Poor-House.html?source=rssI don't apologize for mixing my authors in the title as I believe it illustrates the strange times in which we currently find ourselves in the industry. For many years European mills have viewed the UK as Treasure Island - healthy demand combined with good price levels. However, today we importing agents and mill offices are like Oliver Twist, asking for more; that is, more tonnage for our market. As with many businesses the older and wiser heads in the trade talk of the cyclical nature of the industry and market, if this is true I haven't seen this before and I hope I'm gone by the time it returns. http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/From-Treasure-Island-to-Mr-Bumbles-Poor-House.html?source=rssWed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Getting-together-getting-set-for-the-future.html?source=rssAfter three months away from the pulp and paper industry it's been a pleasure to catch up with old friends, colleagues and contacts at the 100th anniversary SPCI in Stockholm. It's also been hugely interesting to see the industry with (relatively) fresh eyes again. http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Getting-together-getting-set-for-the-future.html?source=rssTue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/primitive-biofuel.html?source=rssIn the June 1978 issue of Pulp & Paper, there was an article titled, "High-energy fuel from bark can be substituted for coal, natural gas." The article featured Bio-Solar Research & Development Corporation and then president Rudy Gunnerman. Gunnerman explains the process the company started of turning organic wastes into pellets that burn like coal or gas, and can be substituted for natural gas – at prices that are a great deal cheaper than coal or gas. The name of the manmade fuel is Woodex, and in 1978 – it was considered a first of its kind, as biofuels go.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/primitive-biofuel.html?source=rssMon, 9 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-From-black-art-to-green-button.html?source=rssAs you can see, we have an all encompassing issue this month, and there is even an attractive lady on our front cover, how good can it get! http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Blog-From-black-art-to-green-button.html?source=rssFri, 6 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/blog-RISI-ECONOMISTS-All-signs-point-to-a-Chinese-economic-slowdown.html?source=rssSitting among a seemingly endless number of gleaming new skyscrapers and soaking in the intense energy of this booming city, it is easy to feel that the party will never end. However, a more sober and data-driven analysis surely trumps the impressions of a jet-lagged Westerner in one city in China. We have done this analysis and come away feeling a bit more pessimistic about the near-term outlook for China. However, before we lay out our arguments, we should provide a bit of context.http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/blog-RISI-ECONOMISTS-All-signs-point-to-a-Chinese-economic-slowdown.html?source=rssThu, 5 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400