Dr. Carl-Erik Torgersen, Christoph Kulterer, Stefano Dezzutto and Marco Vidoni (from left to right) discussing the market situation at the Made Expo © Georg Binder
In the course of the Made Expo in Milan that took place between the 8th and 11th of March, the "Comitato Misto" comprising Austrian exporters and Italian importers gathered. Christoph Kulterer, chairman of proHolz Austria, Dr. Carl-Erik Torgersen, president of the Austrian Timber Trade, and Georg Binder, manager at proHolz Austria were amongst the attendants. The Italian representatives were Alessandro Calcaterra, president of timber dealers, Marco Vidoni, president of the processing and timber construction industry and Stefano Dezzutto, manager at Fedecomlegno.
The market situation constituted a major topic. Exports of lumber and laminated timber from Austria to Italy showed a "trend reversal, or if it wasn't that, at least a stabilization of volumes" in 2016, as Kulterer put it. Looking at the Austrian export statistics respectively the Italian imports according to Eurostat, between January and November 2016 an increase for softwood lumber deliveries from Austria by 1% can be observed. As for laminated timber, the volume even increased by 4%.
The packaging sector is going strong. Due to the excess quantity, delivery times have been increasing which drives prices up, Torgersen informs. All in all, the Italian market currently is at a medium level. The problem is that the market upswing is not yet noticeable. In Austria, France and Germany things are already looking up.
Italian construction investments will rise 0.8% in 2017, according to the Federation of the Construction Industry. Increases of +1.4% are anticipated for renovations. New buildings (-1.4%) will only start climbing in 2018, it is claimed. Furthermore, the planned reconstruction measures have not yet showed any effect. In February, the government adapted the possibilities to write off investments into earthquake protection such that up to 85% can be claimed. Binder points out that the most recent aftershocks only occurred at the end of January. What is more, destroyed buildings are intended to be reconstructed true to the original, Torgersen explains, which is unlikely to lead to bigger impulses for timber construction. Binder rather sees potential in chalet construction. Apparently, there is much talk about it - however, concrete projects are yet to materialize.
One talking point in Milan was the bilateral financing of promo_legno. Many informative conversations with the Italian colleagues took place, but so far, nothing official has emerged from these talks yet. An agreement is expected until the International Day of Wood in Pörtschach at the beginning of September.
The reporting of trade goods in different tax groups was another point of discussion. Since the two countries have differences in their external trade statistics, for example for CLT, they are working on a mutual solution.
