Quality Timber Products
Sawlogs
In 2007/08 VicForests' contracted sawlog volume for Ash species totalled approximately 480,000m3. The grade mix on contracts was:
- 27% high quality B grade logs suitable for appearance grade sawn products
- 44% C grade
- Almost 20% D and E grades suited principally for unseasoned structural and non-structural products such as pallets.
Figure 1: Sawlog grade and species mix - VicForests' supply contracts 2007/08
Depending on the grade, sawn timber can be used to produce items ranging from high quality furniture to pallets. 2007/08 figures indicate our sawn timber was used evenly between high value appearance products, seasoned structural (F17) and unseasoned structural and lower value fencing and pallet products.
The largest market for structural (F17) sawn product is sub-floor construction, indicating that over 40% of all sawn timber produced was used for flooring.
Figure 2: Sawn product output - VicForests' top 18 customers (95% of sawlog sales)
Pulplog
The amount of pulplog produced annually is about twice that of sawlog. Pulplogs are produced when a tree is of insufficient quality or size to be sawn. Some are uneconomical to saw because of defect (ie spiral grain, splits or internal rot).
Rather than leaving behind pulplog in the forest to rot or burn as waste, we are locating markets for as much of our harvested logs as possible.
Pulplog sales for 2007/08 equalled approximately 1.3 million cubic metres. Pulplogs are sold to three customers - around half is sold to Paper Australia's Maryvale mill and the balance is processed for export by South East Fibre Exports at Eden and Midway at Geelong.
VicForests is actively working with current and potential customers to identify high value end uses for logs currently sold as pulplog.
Since 2004, we have increased sales of small diameter logs that were previously sold as pulplog to innovative regional customers such as Dormit Pty Ltd (Dandenong and Swifts Creek).
Many benefits result from pulplog production. Paper manufacture from pulp wood is a high value adding activity and increases economic benefit. There would be a detrimental impact on the timber industry if there was no demand for pulp wood product:
- The cost of harvesting per cubic metre of sawlog would increase and result in increased timber prices
- The level of utilisation would reduce resulting in uneconomic harvesting operations, increased waste and additional fire risk.
Firewood
VicForests manages commercial firewood operations in the eastern part of Victoria. Firewood logs are supplied to commercial firewood operators (on a nominated delivery point basis) under sealed bid auctions when supply or demand requires.
VicForests does not supply firewood to domestic users.
Commercial firewood operations in the western part of Victoria are managed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).
Domestic operations involve cutting firewood in the forests for personal use. Those wanting to collect firewood from State forests must hold a Domestic Firewood Permit which can be purchased from any DSE office.
Information regarding future VicForests firewood auctions is available in this section of our website.
For more information view our Firewood Fact Sheet.