Despite the fact that wood prices have eased in North America, Ireland still has to face record log prices.
In July, the price of high-grade logs in Ireland has doubled from 2017. The local building association said that the delay in the issuance of forest logging permits was the main reason for the increase in Irish timber prices and indirectly pushed up the purchase cost of home buyers. According to major industry bodies in Ireland, shortages have led to a 75% increase in the cost of commonly used construction products, such as 2x4 , and a 15,000 euro increase in the cost of new homes.
The main reason for the current high domestic timber prices in Ireland is that the local forestry department is lagging behind in issuing logging certificates. As of the beginning of July, the Irish forestry department has issued a total of 1,836 logging permits, accounting for 40% of the annual target of 4,500 applications. In fact, the delay in the issuance of logging permits has severely restricted the forest industry in Northern Ireland in 2020. In 2020, the number of forests that can be cut in Ireland amounts to 1 million cubic meters, but the actual amount of logging is less than 50%. The shortage of timber caused by the delay in the issuance of permits has also doubled the price of timber imported by Ireland from Scotland reports Global Wood Markets Info
For more reach out to Hon Richard Evans