Price talks disappoint timber companies27-March-09 by Heather...

Price talks disappoint timber companies
27-March-09 by Heather Bennett

Australia's major forestry companies are disappointed they have not negotiated an increase for the benchmark price of exported Tasmanian bluegum woodchip with Japan.

ITC chief executive Vince Erasmus, who led the negotiations on behalf of Timbercorp and Great Southern, said the 2008 price of A$207.40 did not reflect the quality and consistency of the product compared to its global competitors, but that it did reflect the premium paid for native forest based products.

Timbercorp chief executive Sol Rabinowicz and Great Southern chief executive Cameron Rhodes both said the nil price increase was a disappointment.

"The quality of our product, the fact that Australian hardwood woodchip is preferred in the Japanese market and our relative cost competiveness are all factors that we hope will be taken into account when the time comes to set a new price for the second half of the year," Mr Rhodes said.

It beggars disbelief that Rhodes made a comment a couple of months ago that things were diabolical for tree investors and the best outcome for the collective in GTP was roll over your trees and saving yourself and the company,
Yet --- this article from W.A.has the three mover and shakers of tree plantations moaning and groaning that they could only get $207 per m3 and now reckon they are in the box seat to negoiate a new price for the 2nd half of the year.

Again what was roads rabbitting on about the bearish outlook a couple of months ago,? and now reckons we are doing well and we will get more and basically should have got more even in the present market

give me breath