2017 International Forest Industries Magazines IFI Aug Sept 2017 v2 | Page 24
LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS
Croatia oak log export ban discussed at EOS general assembly
Croatia’s oak log export ban was a
topic for discussion at the recent
European Organisation of the
Sawmilling Industry (EOS) general
assembly in Vienna.
The Croatian government’s
two-year ban on the export of
oak logs is due to a bark beetle
infestation in 14 Croatian counties.
Regulations on limited log
transport have been introduced to
prevent spreading of the harmful
organism (Corythucha arcuata),
and it is expected to last for the
next two years.
Any transfer of wood which has
completely or partially retained its
natural surface (with or without
bark) and plant material is
restricted.
“The discussion offered
the opportunity to stress, one
more time that the European
Organisation of the Sawmill
Industry (EOS) and its members
condemn any practice aiming at
creating an uneven playing field
and distorting the competition in
the internal market,” the EOS said.
EOS delegates also analysed
recent developments related to the
revision of the Directive 2004/37/
EC on the protection of workers
from the risks related to exposure
to carcinogens or mutagens
at work – specifically the new
threshold limit for hardwood dust.
The EOS said different exposure
limits at the national level were
accompanied by different testing
method and calculations all over
Europe, which means results in
one member state could not be
comparable with the one in a
different member state.
“Prior to any discussion on
threshold limits, uniform way of
calculations and testing methods
should be adopted at European
level,” it said.
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22 International Forest Industries | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2017
Nevertheless, EOS said the new
threshold limit proposed by the
European Commission of 3 mg/m3
was a safe and adequate value for
the protection of workers.
But any further reduction
would be a major concern for EOS
member companies as it would
require changes in manufacturing
processes.
Elsewhere at the general
assembly, delegates heard that
sawn softwood production across
European countries was rising at
a moderate but steady pace, with
growth driven mainly by buoyant
export markets, particularly
Asia. Sawn hardwood production
is overall stable in spite of raw
material availability challenges,
particularly in large producer
countries.
Sampsa Auvinen, CEO of
Norvik Timber Industries, has
been re-elected as president of
Sampsa Auvinen,
CEO of Norvik Timber
Industries
EOS for his second term, while
Ernest Schilliger (Schilliger
Holz) and Joël Lefebvre (Groupe
Lefebvre) are both re-confirmed
as vice-presidents respectively for
softwood and for hardwood.
Weyerhaeuser improved 2Q
net sales to $1.8 billion
Weyerhaeuser Company reported
2Q earnings from continuing
operations of $24 million on net
sales of $1.8 billion. This compares
with earnings from continuing
operations of $130 million on net
sales of $1.7 billion for the same
period last year, as the company
said in the press release received
by Lesprom Network.
Adjusted EBITDA for the 2Q was
$506 million compared to $413
million for the 2Q of last year.
Excluding after-tax special
items of $188 million, which
includes $147 million non-cash
impairment for its Uruguay
operations and $31 million for
product remediation, the company
reported net earnings of $212
million for the 2Q. This compares
with net earnings from continuing
operations before special items of
$130 million for the same period
last year and $167 million for 1Q
2017.
“Each of our businesses
delivered strong second quarter
operating results, leveraging
Doyle R. Simons,
Weyerhaeuser
President and CEO
ongoing operational excellence
initiatives to capitalize on
improving markets,” said Doyle
R. Simons, president and CEO. “In
the quarter, we also announced
the pending sale of our Uruguay
operations and completed the
asset value optimization process
for our Western timberlands.
Looking forward, we are extremely
well positioned to continue to
capitalize on the improving housing
market, and remain relentlessly
focused on driving value for our
shareholders through operational
improvements and disciplined
capital allocation.”