发布于：Monday , 11th February 2019

Government experts are mulling over all possible options to ensure revival and strengthening of the sector. The years to come will see increased efficiency and productivity.

The medium-term outlook for the timber industry is under pressure while the short-term outlook for South Africa’s timber industry looks promising, with positive supply and demand figures. As the total area under plantation in South Africa is not expanding in line with the demand for structural timber there is a looming timber shortage.

Sawmilling South Africa highlights that South Africa structural timber stockpiles are currently self-sustaining; however, he warns that the industry needs to address the potential shortage, which is expected to hit in the next five- to six years.

目前，西开普省对结构木材的需求特别高，有迹象表明，电杆行业也很健康，这主要是因为政府仍在实施大型电气化项目。然而，在五到六年后，供应将无法满足需求，而且尚未制定计划来确保未来木材的充足供应。

行业专家指出，木材行业必须努力提高效率，这将需要对昂贵的新技术进行投资。“我们一直在与贸易和工业部讨论这一可能性，但在现阶段，这对公司是否可行仍有争议。”专家们表示，为了确保现有的木材供应，南非将采取更多的谨慎措施。

It is estimated that South Africa will have to import nearly half its pine for structural purposes within the next two decades.

The sawmilling industry is in consultation with government about several possible remedial measures, one of which is for government to grant licences for more plantations. Restrictions were introduced about 20 years ago, owing to a dwindling water supply and, as the economy of the country grew, the establishment of forests fell out of focus. It takes 22 years to 30 years for trees to mature sufficiently to be used for structural timber, depending on the location of the plantations in the country.

Another potential compensatory measure is for the sawmilling industry to increase its efficiency. At the moment, only about 49% of the tree is used, 20% of which goes into the structural industry.

“Forestry is a very labour-intensive process. If we can’t supply local demand, we will, in effect, be exporting forestry jobs to other countries,” says wood preservative chemicals supplier Dolphin Bay MD Bertus Coetzee. “Imported timber will also cost more, making it more expensive to build a house, for example, which will affect the average South African’s prospects of owning a home.”