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Forest Products News

York Timbers lifts FY18 Ebitda by 12%

By: Simone Liedtke 25th September 2018 Despite challenging market conditions, integrated forestry company York Timbers increased its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) and core earnings by 12% and 59%, respectively, for the full year ended June 30. The company on Tuesday pointed out that the Ebitda... →

Company offers paper alternative to wooden and plastic pallets

17th August 2018 Transport packaging company Kimmo is driving the industry to switch to paper pallets as alternatives to the usual wooden and plastic pallets. The company manufactures paper pallets using honeycomb fibreboard in South Africa. According to the founder of Kimmo Jan Vreken, he discovered honeycomb... →

VISUAL RESEMBLANCE Honeycomb fibreboard technology takes its name from the visual resemblance to a bee’s honeycomb

Company facilitates provincial prosperity

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 20th July 2018 With sustainable woodfibre products and solutions provider Sappi’s KwaZulu-Natal operations contributing about R11.7-billion annually to the province’s economy, the company is pursuing socioeconomic transformation in its communities of operation. “We recognise that transformation is not just a... →

ENTRENCHED PLAYER Sappi Southern Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal operations contribute R11.7-billion to the province’s economy yearly

Sappi to build xylitol, furfural production demo plant

By: Creamer Media Reporter 18th July 2018 Pulp and paper producer Sappi has decided to build a demonstration plant to further scale up its novel Xylex technology for the production of xylitol and furfural. The plant, which will become operational in early 2019, will be located adjacent to the existing sugars and lignin extraction plant... →

Renewability driving forest and paper industry

By: Victor Moolman 30th March 2018 Renewable commercial forests that supply the pulp, paper and board industry with wood fibre provide key environmental services and conserve our indigenous forests, says Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (Pamsa) executive director Jane Molony. “Commercially grown trees have helped to... →

Lack of carton collection reduces recycling processes

By: Victor Moolman 30th March 2018 Although paper and plastics packaging company Mpact has been processing liquid packaging successfully, not enough cartons are being collected to use for recycling. “Consumers don’t realise that liquid packaging, such as juice and milk cartons, are actually recyclable. We need to put in an effort... →

Safety solution provided for contractor at Sappi mill

30th March 2018 Rope-access specialist Skyriders has provided a working at height safety solution for a contractor undertaking maintenance at paper and pulp manufacturer Sappi’s Ngodwana pulp and paper mill, in Mpumalanga. The company explains that this follows an earlier successful project in 2016 where it... →

Paper producer to upgrade Mpumalanga mill

By: Victor Moolman 30th March 2018 Pulp and paper producer Sappi will shut down its Ngodwana mill, in Mpumalanga, for four weeks in May, to install new equipment that will decrease bottlenecking. The company will install new machines, and upgrade the wood chipper, fibre line and pulp dryer, says Sappi Southern Africa CEO Alex... →

SAPPI southern Africa CEO Alex Thiel explains what the company is doing and how the paper industry has changed. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Christo Greyling.

Governance key to boosting intra-Africa timber trade – AfDB report

By: Simone Liedtke 23rd March 2018 A new report by the African Development Bank’s (AfDB’s) African Natural Resources Centre has stressed the importance of forestry governance to boosting intra-African trade of wood products. The report, titled ‘Assessing forest law enforcement, governance and trade in Africa’, was launched on... →

New research facility to unlock economic potential of South Africa’s biomass waste

By: Shirley le Guern 20th March 2018 The Department of Science and Technology and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on Tuesday launched a R37.5-million Biorefinery Development Facility (BIDF) in Durban that will bridge the gap between research and development and industrialisation, while helping to rejuvenate... →

Science and Technology Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and Biorefinery Development Facility group leader Bruce Sithole

Steinhoff sells part of stake in South Africa's KAP to help cut debt

By: Reuters 14th March 2018 Crisis-hit South African retailer Steinhoff raised R3.66-billion ($311-million) from the sale of a 16.7% stake in KAP Industrial, another step in its efforts to shore up its finances and pay down debt. Steinhoff, which has more than 40 retail brands that include Conforama, Poundland and Mattress... →

Trade agreement with the EU a boost for Western Cape exports

By: Kim Cloete 1st March 2018 The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and six countries in Southern Africa has been a boost for the Western Cape, with strong gains for the wine and fishing industries since it came into effect in October 2016. The EPA between the EU and the Southern African Customs... →

SA pulp and paper group moves to consolidate dissolving pulp leadership

By: Anine Kilian 9th February 2018 Pulp and paper producer Sappi plans to significantly expand its operations in South Africa, Europe and the US by 2020, starting with the preparatory work for the potential expansion of its South Africa-based Saiccor dissolving wood pulp (DWP) mill. The South African group supplies about 20% of... →

Zambia says miners must move 30% cargo by railway

By: Reuters 26th January 2018 Mining firms and other bulk cargo firms in Zambia must transport at least 30% of their freight by railway, the government said on Friday, imposing a law to revive the sector. Transport Minister Brian Mushimba told reporters there was evidence of a huge imbalance between use of the road and rail... →

Balancing rules, safety and certification will be key to drone industry success

By: Dylan Slater 15th December 2017 The regulations and laws governing access to South African air space for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) are sound and among the “best in the world”, according to Edenvale-based commercial drone operator Visual Air Productions director Stephen Verheul. →

Brown appoints executives at Denel, Safcol and Alexkor

By: Creamer Media Reporter 26th October 2017 Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown has appointed Zwelakhe Ntshepe group CEO of Denel. He joined Denel 21 years ago and most recently served as acting group CEO. →

Photo by Duane Daws
Zwelakhe Ntshepe

Pretoria to host forestry industrialisation conference next month

By: Schalk Burger 29th September 2017 The Forestry Industrialisation Conference, to be hosted by State-owned forestry company Safcol on Oct 4 and 5, will highlight the potential of industrial and commercial forestry and wood products to support economic growth. Safcol chairman Lungile Mabece highlights the decline of commercial... →

York's FY results negatively affected by raw material supply challenges

By: Anine Kilian 26th September 2017 Slow economic growth and a lack of confidence in the construction sector resulted in lower sales volumes in most of JSE-listed York Timbers’ product categories for the financial year ended June 30. The company’s financial performance was further impacted on by raw material supply challenges. →

SA out of recession but growth far from NDP ambitions

By: African News Agency 5th September 2017 The South African economy is out of recession at the moment, owing to a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 2.5% in the second quarter of 2017, StatsSA announced on Tuesday. “Let’s go straight into the numbers … the GDP quarter-on-quarter [growth rate] is 2.5%. I saw that analysts in the media... →

Water department proposes up to 14.6% increase in raw water tariffs for 2018/19

By: Mia Breytenbach 25th August 2017 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has proposed water tariffs for the 2018/19 financial year, with a proposed increase of up to 14.6% throughout the spectrum of raw water users. The DWS proposed the increase at its final national raw water consultation, held in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, on... →

Innovative surfactants enhance firefighting

By: Simone Liedtke 25th August 2017 Owing to ongoing drought conditions and a more intense fire season expected in South Africa, environmental solutions company I-CAT has developed innovative surfactants to boost the fire-extinguishing and dust-suppression capability and effectiveness of water. →

LOURENS JANSEN VAN RENSBURG iFire is an ideal water-treatment agent to improve the wetting capability of water which, in turn, enhances its firefighting capability

Hotel group moves to integrate bamboo products into facilities

By: Ilan Solomons 25th August 2017 Bamboo producer and products supplier EcoPlanet Bamboo and hotel group Mantis Collection have signed a memorandum of understanding which could have “far-reaching benefits for the environment and the global movement towards sustainable tourism”, says EcoPlanet Bamboo CEO and co-founder Troy... →

Photo by EcoPlanet Bamboo
AIR QUALITY IMPROVER EcoPlanet Bamboo will initially supply Mantis with for use across the group’s hotel rooms to improve the quality of indoor air

Forestry sector joins forces to mitigate impact of wildfires on plantations

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 4th July 2017 Following the recent wildfires that swept across the Southern and Eastern Cape areas, industry bodies Forestry South Africa (FSA), Sawmilling South Africa (SSA) and the South African Forestry Contractors Association will mobilise additional contractor capacity to ensure that the interests of... →

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. →

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