The Australian timber supply chain is preparing for life after native hardwoods, with record shipments of American oak now arriving at Australian ports every week.
In January, Wood Central reported that Australian Sustainable Hardwoods, the country’s largest hardwood manufacturer, was importing thirty American oak containers every month, with the Victorian and WA State Governments’ decision to exit native forestry leading supply chains to look across the Pacific to shore up supply chains.
Now, Wood Central can reveal that imports of American red oak – used in mouldings, flooring, furniture, doors, cabinets and coffins – increased by more than 1531%—or 15 times—for the first quarter of 2024, with volumes for the first time, surpassing white oak – which is also up 64%, flowing through ports at the same time that NSW supplies have run out.
Yesterday, Wood Central spoke to the American Hardwood Export Council—the peak body for US hardwoods responsible for a global campaign to export lumber into 50 international markets—who confirmed that, in line with data just released by the US Department of Agriculture, Australia imported more than 4,000 cubic metres of red oak in the first quarter alone.
According to Rod Wiles, Regional Director for the American Hardwood Export Council, the interest in red oak stems from a greater focus on sustainability and waste reduction among eco-aware consumers.
“We have been promoting the benefits of American red oak in Australia for the last few years,” Mr Wiles said, adding that “it shares many of the characteristics of white oak, is readily available and cost-effective.”
“We always encourage specifiers to look to use what the forest provides; too much focus on the best grades of a few popular hardwood species increases pressure on one part of the resource and encourages waste.”
Readily available, red oak is the most abundant species in American hardwood forests, accounting for 18% of all growing stock. While it has similar characteristics to White Oak, its more open grain makes it more suitable for staining, making it a versatile choice.
It comes months after Mr Wiles reported a significant uptake in red oak from “savvy specifiers”, who are now looking for alternatives to Australian species in the wake of successive state government decisions to either close or severely curtail native logging.
- For more information showing how Australian timber manufacturers are rising to meet hardwood demand in the face of the close of native forest harvesting in Victoria and West Australia, please refer to Wood Central’s special feature.
