New research indicates that around 25% of solid timber products imported into the EU-25 is likely to derive from independently certified or legally verified forests. However the research also suggests that the very high level of fragmentation both in the EU timber trade and in timber’s major consuming sectors – construction and furniture – present a major obstacle to chain of custody certification and the further development of markets for environmentally labeled wood products throughout the EU.
Continue reading “25% of EU Timber Imports From Certified Forests but Still Gaps in Demand – ITTO European Market Report 29th May 2009”Some Weak Signals of Economic Improvement – ITTO European Market Report 15th May 2009
Indicators of EU economic conditions in the EU for the first quarter of 2009 – just now being published – were dire. However various “softer” survey-based indices of business confidence suggest that the pace of contraction may have slowed in the second quarter. Two of the most closely watched, Germany’s Ifo business confidence and the eurozone purchasing managers’ indices, suggest a marked deceleration in the pace of economic contraction in coming months.
Continue reading “Some Weak Signals of Economic Improvement – ITTO European Market Report 15th May 2009”