Export markets for windblown timber

It is early morning in the Mahood’s family forest located in the townland of Tullylorcan, outside the village of Canningstown, Co Cavan. Harvesting is under way and by the time Minister Michael Healy-Rae arrives at 8am, a container of Sitka spruce is ready for loading with windblown Sitka spruce lengths, which will leave for Dublin Port before beginning a 17,000km journey to Qingdao Port in China.

Minister Michael Healy-Rae has a keen interest in this project as it provides “a much needed market for Irish timber” at a time when 5m m³ needs to be removed from privately owned forests in addition to the Coillte windblow.

He and his Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) forestry inspectors are heavily engaged in the export project as phytosanitary certificates are required for all consignments outside the EU, while he is committed to a quick turnaround of felling licences.

The operation is managed by Euroforest Ireland (EFI), which is proactively involved in windblow harvesting since storm Éowyn hit.

Within days after the storm, EFI had organised a series of windblow information workshops in all counties badly affected by the storm.

EFI also has a track record in exporting logs through the ports of Sligo, Limerick, Cork, Wicklow, Dundalk and now Dublin.

China

“China is a completely new challenge,” says Paddy Bruton MD. “Currently we are loading mainly 11.8m lengths to fill containers carrying up to 27m³,” he explains. The harvesting operation is carried out by Eldron Logs Ltd, the Monaghan based timber harvesting company.

When the lengths are loaded, the container is closed and fumigated to conform with timber health regulations.

“All containers require a phytosanitary certificate,” says Declan Clancy, EFI forest manager. “We need to give DAFM inspectors adequate notice and we are receiving excellent cooperation in meeting deadlines,” he adds.

Measurement

Minister Healy-Rae outlines his interest in windblown timber exports and other initiatives. He discusses a wide range of challenges including timber mobilisation, reforestation, licensing and the recent controversy on timber measurement.

He explains his view on volume-weight measurement. “When I’m buying timber for a roof of a house or shed, I buy planks by the foot or metre – I don’t ask for it in tonnes,” he says.

“There is a sound argument in favour of volume measurement [but] there is no room for me in the middle of that negotiation,” he adds.

He outlines how this issue has been aired at taskforce meetings but believes that measurement is ultimately a matter for suppliers and sawmills who “need to sit down and debate the issue outside Agriculture House”.

“We appreciate Minister Healy-Rae’s interest and support in the export initiative, especially the rapid response by his inspectors in providing phytosanitary certificates,” says Paddy Bruton, managing director, EFI.

“While we have built up expertise in exporting logs to the UK and Europe, the Chinese market is at the exploratory stage, but the prospects are good.”

When this market is established, timber in containers will be traded by volume with “potential to supply logs at a variety of sizes to conform with China’s log specifications,” he says.

The export project is a partnership between EFI and Västkusten Skogs AB, which is headed by Morten Jensen in Ireland.

Cedric Mahood and his son William outline how forestry works well with other enterprises on their family farm. The breakdown of land use is forestry (30ac) and suckler farming and silage (60ac), while the Mahood sawmill ensures a good commercial and lifestyle mix. The forest was established in 2002 with Sitka spruce as the main species alongside excellent crops of Norway spruce and oak. The crop was close to maturity when the storm hit, so all the timber was salvaged down to removal of lop and top for energy, which results in a clean site when replanting.

“We are using some of the commercial blown Sitka lengths in combination with other conifers in our sawmill for sheds, gates and fencing posts,” says William Mahood. When asked what species they will use when replanting the windblown area, both Cedric and William agree that they will choose Sitka spruce.

While Chinese timber exports are new, there are other established UK and European markets especially for small logs. After visiting Canningstown, I caught up with Jordan Foxton, general manager, EFI at Dundalk Port where a load of pulpwood was being loaded for export to Germany.

Justin O’Hanlon, director with O’Hanlon Shipping Services, the company that runs Dundalk Port, joins us.

“We are very happy with the setup with EFI, because they have good delivery schedules and maintain good communications,” O’Hanlon says.

“We are flexible and we understand haulage as we are in that business ourselves.”

Foxton outlines the logistics which include “harvesting, haulage, storage, boat loading, inspection by DAFM inspectors, for all UK exports since Brexit”.

Deadlines have to be met as timing is impacted by weather, tides and other factors so adequate timber reserves need to be in place.

“We are currently loading 900 tonnes of pulpwood while a bigger boat is on the way with a 2,500-tonne capacity,” he says.

There is significant harvesting activity in the windblown areas. New overseas buyers and harvesting contractors continue to arrive as European and global log prices are strong at the moment. In addition, Irish sawmills are expanding capacity to deal with all Coillte and some private windblow but log exports are now a major marketing outlet.

It is easy to forget in the midst of increased harvesting activity that the same sales conditions apply to windblown timber as normal felling sales.

The Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA) Template Tree Sales Agreement (www.itga.ie) is the accepted document when selling and harvesting timber. Growers should also pick up the suite of Teagasc timber marketing factsheets, available free of charge at local offices or online (at www.teagasc.ie/timbersalesfactsheets). Teagasc advises that “timber payments are made after the timber is harvested and delivered to the mill or storage site”.

Add port to this list; that is the port of departure not arrival. “Payment schedule options, particularly for larger sales can include an initial payment and/or instalments,” Teagasc advises.

“Know who you’re dealing with,” is Paddy Bruton’s advice. “Talk to foresters and forest owners about their experiences,” he adds. Groups such as the North East Forestry Group (NEFG) support members in selling their timber.

In short