http://www.risiinfo.com/blogsThe leading information provider for the global forest products industryen-usRISI2009-11-20T21:48:54-05:00http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Still-saying-it-with-a-card.html?source=rssThe recent postal strike in the UK has led to much commentary about the effect of industrial action on the greetings card industry both in the run up to Christmas and in the longer term. The Royal Mail would normally deliver some 750 million cards over the festive season, business worth GBP 324 million ($544 million), according to the UK's Greeting Card Association (UK GCA). Charities benefit too, bringing in some GBP 50 million each year from the sale of Christmas cards. Yet, with the possibility of disruption to deliveries in the lead up to December 25, Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier has been quick to point to a potentially catastrophic change in the public's card-sending habits: "The danger of the strike is that the trend [towards electronic methods of communication] that is there already gets exacerbated by this." Still saying it with a cardJustin Toland, Contributing Editor, PPI Magazine2009-11-18T00:00:00-05:00http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Did-Black-Liquor-Credits-Pave-the-Way-for-Healthcare-Legislation.html?source=rss The Democrats' healthcare plan hasn't even been approved by Congress yet, but it already seems to be doing wonders for several hundred pulp-mill workers in Baileyville, Maine. Did Black Liquor Credits Pave the Way for Healthcare Legislation?Dead Tree Edition2009-11-13T00:00:00-05:00http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Argentinau2019s-media-quarrel-a-history-with-no-heroes-or-villains.html?source=rssBlockage of some distribution channels of Clarín and La Nación last week was only another episode of the ‘soap opera' about the relationship between the two most important Argentinean daily newspapers and the country's President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Accusations for both sides, pinch of media control, censure and newsprint are putting pepper on this novel with no heroes or villains.Argentina’s media quarrel: a history with no heroes or villains Fernanda Belchior, Assistant Editor, PPI Latin America, RISI2009-11-13T00:00:00-05:00http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/The-route-to-Copenhagen-starts-in-Brussels.html?source=rssEven before the motorcades roll in to Copenhagen, it seems the teeth have been extracted from the global summit which was supposed to herald a post-Kyoto era of climate change action. It now seems unlikely that the Copenhagen climate change conference will produce anything more than political agreement (rather than a binding treaty) for the foreseeable future. The route to Copenhagen starts in BrusselsTeresa Presas, Managing Director, CEPI2009-11-11T00:00:00-05:00http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Indias-log-import-market-heating-up.html?source=rssAlthough the growth in softwood log imports in India is impressive, at least 80% of India's log imports are hardwood. Teak logs are imported from Myanmar, various African countries, and Central and South America. According to ITTO data, prices for teak logs imported into India range from less than $300/m3 for logs from Panama to more than $500/m3 for logs from some African countries. Of course, prices for larger, older teak from Myanmar can command much higher prices.India's log import market heating upBob Flynn, Director, International Timber, RISI2009-11-10T00:00:00-05:00http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/No-Quick-Exit-For-AbitibiBowater.html?source=rss With AbitibiBowater likely to remain under bankruptcy protection well into next year, a Canadian court has approved additional financing for the giant papermaker. No Quick Exit For AbitibiBowaterDead Tree Edition2009-11-06T00:00:00-05:00http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Coated-Paper-Market-Been-Down-So-Long-This-Looks-Like-Up.html?source=rss Despite various announcements of price increases on coated freesheet and high-brightness coated groundwood papers, the unanimous word from the trenches is that no prices are moving up except perhaps for some really low-ball spot business. Coated Paper Market: Been Down So Long This Looks Like UpDead Tree Edition2009-11-03T00:00:00-05:00http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Viewpoint-Growthu2026Finally.html?source=rssAfter contracting for four straight quarters, the US economy actually grew in 3Q09 at an annual rate of 3.5%, which was half a percentage point higher than our estimate. The Wall Street Journal's Real Time Economics ran the headline "Don't Break Out the Champagne Yet: Cause for Concern in GDP" following the release of the third quarter number. I say you can break out the bubbly, just make it a pretty cheap Californian version and not your 1996 Krug (as if anyone who owns stocks of that vintage spends their free time reading my blog).Viewpoint - Growth….FinallyScott Howard, Economist, Macroeconomics, RISI2009-11-02T00:00:00-05:00http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Pulpwood-plantations-in-Brazil-the-key-to-the-future.html?source=rssI've written a lot lately about the surge in biomass energy plantation investment in Brazil, but there has also been a strong expansion in eucalyptus pulpwood plantations in recent years. This expansion in plantations for pulpwood production is a key indicator of future expansion plans for the Brazilian pulp sector, and offers some interesting new opportunities for timberland investors. So I'm looking forward to RISI's upcoming Latin America Pulp and Paper Outlook Conference in Sao Paulo November 15-17 (http://www.risi.com/la_conf/), where I'll have a chance to chat with pulp producers from Brazil (and Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, etc.) about what's happening in their rapidly developing plantation programs. Pulpwood plantations in Brazil: the key to the futureBob Flynn, Director, International Timber, RISI2009-11-02T00:00:00-05:00http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/Russian-Log-Export-Tax-Increase-Delayed-Again.html?source=rss Yesterday (October 25, 2009) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told an international forestry meeting in St. Petersburg that the log export duty will remain unchanged in 2010, and this same level may be extended into 2011. In April 2008, the duty on unprocessed log exports was increased to 25% of export value, or a minimum of 15 Euros per cubic meter for softwood and 24 Euros per cubic meter for hardwood logs greater than 15cm diameter. The tax was originally scheduled to increase to 80% of value, or a minimum of 50 Euros per cubic meter, for both softwood and hardwood in January 2009, but in November 2008 the Russian government announced a "one year delay" in implementation of this higher rate. Yesterday's announcement means that the export duty will remain unchanged at least until January 2011, and the hike to 80% may be delayed even further. Russian Log Export Tax Increase Delayed AgainBob Flynn, Director, International Timber, RISI2009-10-27T00:00:00-04:00http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/What-Nasty-Chemicals-Are-Lurking-in-Your-Paper.html?source=rssAlmost all discussions about the environmental friendliness of papers focus on the fiber, but perhaps we should pay more attention to the non-fiber ingredients.What Nasty Chemicals Are Lurking in Your Paper?Dead Tree Edition2009-10-26T00:00:00-04:00http://www.risiinfo.com/blogs/North-American-coated-paper-demand-and-capacity-are-closing-the-gap-but-Europe-will-likely-announce-huge-closures-in-2010-5702.html?source=rssNorth American coated paper markets have come a long way toward closing the gaping hole between supply and demand that opened up as a result of the collapse in magazines and catalogs. A gap of more than 2.0 million tons (annualized) opened up between actual capacity and the normal level of capacity that would be needed to support a 95% operating rate in North America. Producers coped with this problem by shutting even more capacity and taking massive amounts of downtime at their remaining mills. North American coated paper demand and capacity are closing the gap, but Europe will likely announce huge closures in 2010John Maine, Vice President, World Graphic Papers, RISI2009-10-23T00:00:00-04:00