Representatives from American Softwoods attended the International Softwood Conference (ISC) October 15-18 in Antwerp, Belgium. Occurring annually at a different European capital, ISC exists so that producers and users of wood and wood products can engage in dialogue on markets and resolve any bilateral issues. Formatted as a series of presentations and less formal discussions, ISC provides an invaluable opportunity to gain up to date market knowledge on the world trade in softwood products and to network with colleagues.
Throughout the conference, conversation focused on various challenges currently facing the industry. Most notably the effect that climate change is having on trees, witnessed by insect infestations across several countries globally. These outbreaks are happening more often and with greater severity due to the warming planet, characterized by warmer, drier summers. The devastation caused by these outbreaks combined with the apparent powerlessness of the industry to combat them means that some serious, concerted thinking needs to be done regarding containment and treatment in order to avoid raw material shortages in the future.
Overall, the mood of the conference was relatively doleful compared to previous years. Other industry challenges discussed included the US/China trade war and Brexit.
SFPA Members can view the complete report within the Members Only section of SFPA.org.