Sales of wood from state forests in 2011

The recovery that began in 2010 persisted through to 2011 but was unable to counter all of the effects of the world financial crisis that struck at the end of 2008. Demand in volume, which in 2010 had returned to its pre-crisis level, was stable in 2011. Prices for wood products increased over the year, but the trend dwindled in the second half in the wake of another crisis of sovereign debts in the Euro zone. Additionally, the average prices for timber from oak and beech are still significantly below their pre-crisis levels in the absence of demand for lesser grades. Revenue from sales of timber from state forests in 2011 increased 10 % as a result of the increased unit price and the development of manufactured timber sold under timber supply contracts. The latter account for 20 % of overall sales by volume and will continue to develop under the new contract entered into by the State, ONF (French Forestry Board) and FNCOFOR (National Federation of Forest Municipalities). (authors)