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Forest Products News

South African timber industry could become net importer amid supply pressures

By: David Oliveira 16th June 2017 While the short-term outlook for South Africa’s timber industry looks positive, with positive supply and demand figures, the medium term outook for the industry is under pressure owing to a potential looming timber shortage, as the total area under plantation in South Africa is not expanding in... →

Amended Forest Sector Code gazetted

By: Natasha Odendaal 2nd May 2017 Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies has approved the amended Forest Sector Code outlining transformation guidelines aligned to the Amended Codes of Good Practice for the forestry sector. “The forestry sector is one of the sectors that can stimulate and accelerate rural development, because... →

Success abounds in paper recycling and recovery

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 31st March 2017 Despite South Africa having less easily accessible recycling initiatives in place than in developed countries, such as recycling bins in every park or street, or systematic waste recovery at household level, the Paper Recycling Association of South Africa (Prasa) says the country’s paper... →

Sustainable industry dispels misconceptions

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 31st March 2017 Contrary to the misconceptions about the paper industry being detrimental to the environment, Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (Pamsa) executive director Jane Molony posits that the sector is “incredibly sustainable” and shows a circular economy in action. Whether made from virgin... →

York H1 profit dips as revenue rises

By: Natasha Odendaal 16th March 2017 JSE-listed York Timbers on Thursday posted lower earnings for the six-month period to December 31. Headline earnings a share and earnings a share declined from 11c in the comparable prior period to 10c in the six months under review, while profit for the period was down from the R35.4-million... →

Sawmilling sector’s resource shortages need urgent attention

By: Creamer Media Reporter 3rd March 2017 South Africa needs to urgently respond to the resource shortages within the sawmilling sector to unlock the benefits of job creation and growth. The shrinking of resources in forestry was one major challenge that needed to be dealt with by both government and the private sector, said Sawmilling... →

Mondi appoints new CEO as Hathorn announces retirement

By: Creamer Media Reporter 1st February 2017 David Hathorn will step down as CEO of packaging and paper group Mondi on May 11. He will be succeeded by Peter Oswald, who is currently CEO of Mondi’s Europe & International division. →

Outgoing Mondi CEO David Hathorn

Sappi declares first dividend in 8 years

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 10th November 2016 Paper and pulp manufacturer Sappi on Thursday declared a dividend of $0.11 for the year ended September 30, its first since 2008, when it stopped paying dividends as it grappled with losses caused by the economic crisis in Europe and falling demand for paper, as well as crippling debt. However,... →

Jacobs Capital, partner invest R300m in recapitalising KZN hardboard manufacturer

By: Shirley le Guern 26th September 2016 Durban-based private equity firm Jacobs Capital and its partner Black Bird Capital are confident that investment of around R300-million will place struggling hardboard manufacturer Masonite back on its feet in the short to medium term. The troubled company was placed in business rescue in... →

Agriculture entrepreneurs innovate to take awards

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 1st September 2016 Innovation in the local agriculture sector was highlighted at this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, with pelleting solutions provider Agricon owner Johan Eksteen named the overall winner. Pelletising is used globally by manufacturers of animal feed or at recycling facilities that... →

Agricon owner Johan Eksteen

Mondi reports solid H1 earnings, despite difficult trading environment

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 4th August 2016 International packaging and paper group Mondi’s underlying earnings a share improved to 75c apiece for the six months ended June 30, up from 67.8c in the six months to June 2015. Its profit after tax increased from €313-million in the six months to June 2015, to €390-million in the period under... →

France, South Africa to foster pulp, paper industry relationships

By: Mia Breytenbach 29th July 2016 With South Africa and France being “well recognised” as key players in the international paper industry, it is essential to engage in “fruitful exchanges”, including knowledge sharing and stakeholder solutions for the industry. This is according to Ambassador of France Elisabeth Barbier, who... →

Photo by Duane Daws
IMPARTING EXPERIENCE Key industry players shared expertise, case studies and solutions at the French South African Technical Symposium for the pulp and paper industry

Eastern Cape development agencies’ R113m forestry project nets 2 700 ha new afforestation

By: Creamer Media Reporter 9th May 2016 A R113-million community-based forestry commercialisation drive has resulted in 2 700 ha of new afforestation across five projects in the OR Tambo district of the Eastern Cape. Backed by a 2013 R83-million grant from the Development Bank of Southern Africa Jobs Fund, the Eastern Cape Development... →

CompComm raids particleboard manufacturers in collusion investigation

By: Samantha Herbst 31st March 2016 The Competition Commission on Thursday conducted a search and seizure operation at the Gauteng premises of particleboard and medium-density fibreboard manufacturers PG Bison and Sonae Novobord as part of an investigation into alleged collusion. →

Contraction of paper industry unlikely despite challenges

By: Robyn Wilkinson 25th March 2016 Despite the difficult economic climate, Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (Pamsa) executive director Jane Molony believes that it is unlikely that there will be significant contraction in the paper industry this year. →

FORESTRY The paper industry aims to stimulate rural development and improve timber yield through forestry initiatives

York expects lower H1 earnings

By: Anine Kilian 24th February 2016 JSE-listed York Timber expects to report a 45% to 50% year-on-year decrease in its headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six months ended December 31. Earnings per share (EPS) and HEPS were expected to decrease to between 10.5c and 11.6c, from 21c in the six months to December 2014. →

Mindanao to lead Philippine rubber production

12th February 2016 The Philippine Department of Trade and Investment (DTI) aims to position Mindanao as the country’s rubber product manufacturing hub. Mindanao currently supplies 99% of the country’s national rubber production. DTI region 9 director and national coordinator for the rubber industry cluster Dr Sitti... →

Bayer commits to sustainable farming in S Africa

By: Anine Kilian 4th February 2016 Chemicals and pharmaceuticals company Bayer has joined forces with the Howick-based Future Farmers Foundation to show its support for the Future Farmers initiative. This reinforced Bayer’s commitment to local agricultural development through sustainable food production, skills development and job... →

Ecological intensification of agriculture must be done across value chain

By: Schalk Burger 15th January 2016 Reducing the impact of agriculture on the environment, called ecological intensification, is most effective when it involves the entire agricultural value chain, rather than just the primary producers. This was proven by the results achieved by South African macadamia processor Green Farms Nut... →

MACADAMIA NUT FACTORY Eliminating wasteful production processes and driving additional revenue streams provide positive environmental impacts

Grain body says South Africa may need to import 5 Mt of maize

By: Reuters 6th January 2016 South Africa may need to import as much as 5-million tonnes of maize this year, roughly half of its requirements, because of its worst drought in three decades, the country's largest producer group said on Wednesday. The drought in the continent's biggest maize producer has been exacerbated by an... →

DA calls for action on looming Gauteng agriculture crisis

By: African News Agency 16th November 2015 The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Sunday called on the Gauteng government to take urgent steps to avert a looming agriculture crisis in the province and its impact on food security. The Gauteng agriculture and rural development department should as a matter of urgency approach National Treasury... →

DTI publishes forestry BBBEE sector codes

By: Natasha Odendaal 10th November 2015 The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has published the draft amended broad-based black economic empowerment forest sector codes for public comment. Interested parties had until January 6 to comment on the proposed codes, which were aimed at finalising the Codes of Good Practice-aligned... →

Sappi chairperson to step down

By: Creamer Media Reporter 9th October 2015 Dr Danie Cronjé will retire as Sappi chairperson at the end of February 2016. He was appointed to the board in January 2008 and took up the position of chairperson in March of that year. →

Currency gains lift Mondi’s Q3 profit by 27%

By: Natalie Greve 8th October 2015 Paper and packaging company Mondi has reported a 27% year-on-year rise in its underlying operating profit for the third quarter ended September 30, to €22-million, with a good performance posted by all business units and strong incremental contributions from the packaging paper, uncoated fine... →

Land claims threaten forestry company's viability‚ MPs told

By: RDM News Wire 14th September 2015 The land claims at Komatiland Forests‚ a subsidiary of South African Forestry Company Limited (Safcol)‚ threatens the viability of current operation‚ with 61% of the plantation being claimed by more than 50 groups of people‚ MPs were told. The Select Committee on Communications and Public... →

Rate of global deforestation slows – FAO

By: Shirley le Guern 7th September 2015 Africa is leading the way when it comes to deforestation with a net yearly loss of 2.8-million hectares of forests between 2010 and 2015. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) director-general José Graziano da Silva, on Monday released the Global Forest Resources Assessment for... →

Italian compact loaders well received since local launch

By: Dylan Slater 4th September 2015 After officially opening its head office in mid-February, Jet Park-based industrial equipment distributor MultiOne South Africa (SA) has sold more than 30 loaders and numerous attachments of the machinery the company is distributing from Italy-based manufacturer CSF MultiOne. →

8-SERIES Compact loaders from MultiOne aim to rival the more expensive skid-steers

Streamlined industrial group focusing on high-barrier-to-entry markets

By: Schalk Burger 4th September 2015 Industrial and logistics company KAP posted robust results for the 2015 financial year, ended June 30, including reducing its debt-to-equity ratio from 40% to 27%, in a tough and competitive environment. The board and management are “comfortable” with the streamlined structure and performance of... →

Tiger Brands to buy more from small farmers

By: News24Wire 7th August 2015 SA’s biggest consumer foods maker Tiger brands on Friday signed an agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in which it agreed to buy certain crops from smallholders. Tiger Brands CEO Peter Matlare said at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding that the deal... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Tiger Brands CEO Peter Matlare

Mondi expects H1 earnings to increase by 35%

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 28th July 2015 Dual-listed packaging and paper group Mondi expects its underlying operating profit for the half-year ended June 30 to be above the €377-million it reported for the first six months of 2014. In the six months under review, the group recognised a net special item charge of €36-million, relating... →

Mondi signs land reform settlement agreements with KZN communities

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 23rd July 2015 International packaging and paper group Mondi on Thursday signed a settlement agreement with Department of Rural Development and Land Reform for land claims lodged by the Mkhuzane community for land in the Richmond area and the Nodunga community for land in the Stanger area of KwaZulu-Natal. The... →

DTI, Nestlé sign chicory MoU

By: Natalie Greve 2nd July 2015 Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies says a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Eastern Cape provincial government and dairy products manufacturer Nestlé South Africa on Thursday would create 800 permanent and seasonal jobs by 2019. The... →

Sappi sells recycled packaging paper business to Corruseal

By: Creamer Media Reporter 2nd July 2015 Pulp and paper manufacturer Sappi will sell its Enstra mill recycled containerboard and kraft papers business, in Springs, to packaging supplier Corruseal Group for an undisclosed amount. The mill would continue to manufacture recycled and lightweight packaging paper, but the existing security... →

Sappi Southern Africa CEO Alex Thiel

Land reform necessary as small-scale farming is essence of economy

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 18th June 2015 The development of small-scale farming, or so-called communal farming, is on the rise in South Africa, as it provides significant economic benefit and forms one of the key pillars of the National Development Plan (NDP). “The debate used to be that there [is] only commercial farming in South... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Martin Mohale

Global agriculture forum seeks innovative ideas in Africa competition

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 8th June 2015 The organisers of the first regional Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) Africa, to be held at the Durban Exhibition Centre, in KwaZulu-Natal, in December, have issued a call for innovators to submit entries on game-changing innovations. “This opportunity is aimed at any companies,... →

Sappi expecting better earnings, but currency movements may impact

By: Sashnee Moodley 29th May 2015 Pulp and paper producer Sappi has increased its net profit for the three months to March 31, by 75% to $56-million, compared with the profit of $32-million recorded in the March 2014 quarter. →

Photo by Duane Daws
LOCAL GROWTH The South African paper business continued to progress with higher volumes, pricing and lower logistics and fixed costs

Sappi lifts Q2 profit by 75% y/y

By: Sashnee Moodley 14th May 2015 Pulp and paper producer Sappi has increased its net profit for the three months to March 31, by 75% to $56-million, compared with the profit of $32-million recorded in the March 2014 quarter. →

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