The timber industry faces a bleak outlook, as it deals with illegal logging, added to the international scene.”
Marco Antonio Ruiz, president of the national chamber of the wood industry
Lerma, Mexico. Wood has become another raw material facing price increases of up to 60% due to the global shortage of the product. “What is coming is a strong economic crisis”, after the uncertainty due to Russia’s war attack on Ukraine, which will impact the industry and the consumer with the acquisition of furniture, said Marco Antonio Ruiz, president of the National Chamber of Industry Timber (Canainma) of the State of Mexico.
After the closure of productive activity in the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the shortage of wood due to climate change became evident, which caused the closure of country borders for the external sale of the input. In the case of Mexico, a shortage of 35% of wood such as pine, oyamel and oak is estimated, as a result of natural disasters.
During a visit to the Indumark facilities, the also director of the company dedicated to the manufacture of pallets stated that the wood industry is facing a “bleak” scenario, since it is facing illegal logging, which, added to the complex international panorama, has led to a scenario in which each country consumes what it produces.
The Indumark company maintained that it is one of the first victims of the consequences of the war in Ukraine, as it is a supplier of wooden pallets for Grupo Bimbo, which recently announced the closure of commercial activities in the area.
Innovation, response
However, other companies dedicated to the use of wood have taken advantage of technology to innovate and create new options for products derived from Teak and Eucalyptus wood, from which MDF is made.
Proteak, which is the largest Mexican forestry company, has managed to conquer the world of national and international wood products and furniture retail and already captures 25% of the market share, under its commitment to sustainability and national design.
Hezael Gómez, specifications manager at Proteak, affirmed that operating with care for the environment through and translating it into a social impact have opened the doors to national wood products, to take advantage of the trade war between the United States and China.
Proteak’s business consists of planting the trees, cutting them down and exporting logs, especially in the case of teak; and, in the case of eucalyptus, in giving it added value by converting it into medium-density fiberboard (MDF, for its acronym in English).
Despite the problems of shortages, the value chain of the wood and furniture transformation industry has a high growth potential in Mexico, which is supported by the demand of the United States, with the economic reactivation considered the director of MEM Industrial 2022, Azul Ogazón.
He commented that the fair organized by Hannover Mexico will take place from March 29 to 31 at the Citibanamex Center, with the themes of circular economy, design and innovation, where the entire value chain will participate from the forestry sector, machinery and suppliers and industry 4.0.