The Middle East and North Africa have long been a key market area for Nordic sawn timber. Close-grained wood is highly appreciated by quality-conscious customers who value craftsmanship.
Although the Middle East and North Africa are rich in natural resources, the dry and hot region has hardly any forests suitable for commercial use. As for sawn timber, the region’s countries are in practice entirely dependent on wood imported from elsewhere, says Heikki Vidgren , a sawmill industry expert from AFRY Management Consulting. “They produce less than one per cent of the sawn timber they consume. It is very different in Europe. For example, Central European countries have their own sawmills and generally import only what they cannot produce.” For decades, Finland and Sweden have commanded a strong position in Middle Eastern and North African sawn timber markets. Vidgren believes this is logical because both Nordic countries are major net exporters of sawn timber and are geographically closer than other global exporters like Canada and South America. Central Europe does not have a sawn timber surplus for export because most of its production is consumed locally. Sawn timber is shipped to North Africa and the Middle East by sea in containers and on bulk carriers.
There is also wide variation in lengths and grades. “We have hardly any customers in Europe who request such a wide product portfolio. Instead, European industrial customers and the retail sector have very specific sawn timber requirements, for example length.”
Only Nordic wood is good enough
In the Middle East and North Africa, wooden end products are still frequently made by hand. For example, in Algeria, most doors, windows and furniture are produced in small carpentry shops instead of large production plants. Woodworking skills are still valued, and the profession is often passed down from father to son. “However, Algerian production is being modernised, and industrial production methods are becoming increasingly common,” says Azzedine Chebirdou, owner and manager of Cotim Bois, a wood supplier. Carpenters handle wood by the piece and are very conscious of the quality of the material they use. “Our local customers are demanding. Each delivery must meet their quality requirements, which is why we only use sawn timber from Finland and Sweden,” says Chebirdou. Pine is used in Algeria for doors, windows, fixtures and furniture. Spruce is the dominant wood species in other types of construction.
Large differences in use
Tommi Saarnisto , Metsä Fibre’s Area Sales Director, points out that although the Middle East and North Africa are traditionally important markets for pine sawn timber, there is also good demand for spruce. The region stretching from Morocco to Saudi Arabia encompasses a variety of sawn timber markets, with major variations in wood product use between the countries. “Take concrete formwork. In some countries, spruce is favoured while others prefer pine,” Saarnisto explains. Metsä Fibre’s main markets in the Middle East and North Africa are Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Egypt. Saarnisto says all standard sizes of sawn timber, from 19-millimetre boards to 75-millimetre heartwood, are supplied to these countries.
Saudi Arabia favours spruce for construction
Faisal Al-Muhaidib , CEO of Masdar Building Material, says Saudi Arabian customers are also very particular about wood quality. Masdar’s clientele consists of contractors, manufacturers, joineries, traders and end users. “There is no wood construction as such in Saudi Arabia, but wood products are used for various purposes by the
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