16 February 2013: The latest edition of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) Tropical Timber Market Report has been released with a headline story on a Verified Legal Origin (VLO) system for a 1.6 million hectare forestry concession in Guyana.

Other headlines include, from Asia, a report that Malaysia’s furniture exports exceeded US$2 billion in 2012, a discussion on Indonesia on the possible construction of “wood terminals” to better supply the timber industry, and the announcement that Japan’s housing starts in 2012 were one of the lowest since 1965, while China’s flooring sales have fallen by 5 per cent. In Europe, the report highlights the publication of new guidance on European Union (EU) Timber Regulation, the achievement of a short-term increase in tropical hardwood imports into the EU, and a report by FERN, which reveals forest governance improvements resulting from the implementation of the EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan.

Headlines also focus on the success of Guyana’s preparations for negotiations under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) for timber shipments to the EU and the innovative use of Ipe and wood-plastic composites for the construction of a boardwalk in the US.

With regard to tropical timber market reports, information is presented on markets in Brazil, China, Ghana, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar and Peru. Regional reports are presented for Central and West Africa, Europe and North America. [Publication: Timber Market Report February 1-15]