Will booming furniture exports result in a wood shortage?

Representatives of sawmills and plywood producers estimate that there will be a shortage in timber supplies this year amounting to 5 million cubic meters, which is one-fifth of total demand. The most difficult will be the fourth quarter of the year when supplies from State Forests (LP) will run out. However, paper and cellulose producers are in the most favorable position, "As a strategic client we have supplies guaranteed by annual contracts with LP. There is no such boom on the paper market, as in the sawmill sector. Our output has been at a similar level for a few years now," said Zdzisław Urbaniak from International Paper Kwidzyn. However, other sectors relying on timber supply are in a much more difficult situation. "We might increase supplies by 700,000 cubic meters, but the amount demanded by the timber industry cannot even be considered," said Waldemar Tomkiewicz from LP. This will lead to increasing imports and thus growing final prices. (Parkiet, p. 8) M.M.