Lumber Review

Media

Part of Forestry Leaves

Title: Lumber Review
Language: English
Year: 1952
Rights
Fulltext: • LUMBER REVIEW • =============By Forester GREGORIO PoBLACION=========== Following the general trend of the export trade, lumber and timber exports during the period from December, 1951 to February, 1952, declined considerably. During the period under review there were exported 12,053,589 board feet of sawn lumber and 35,241,081 board feet of logs, or a total of 47,294,670 board feet, as comp~ed to 53,24 7 ,172 board feet exported during the same period in the previous year, or a drop of 5,952,502 board feet or 11 per cent. It is again evident, as it was before the war, that Japan is only interested in the importation of Philippine logs as shown by the fact that during the period under review that market imported from the Philippines 26,914,738 board feet of logs and _450 board feet. only of sawn lumber for sample purposes. In fact, with the exception of lumber purchased by the United States Army for its own needs, there has been no shipment of Philippine lumber to Japan since May, 1951. Demand in Hongkong for Philippine lumber was strong but, on account of government restrictions on the exportation of lumber to that market for reasons of national security, only 1,760,949 board feet composed Qf. narrows, shorts and one-inch lumber of Merchantable grade were shipped to that market during the period under review. While new openings for export logs and lumber were apparently developing, especially in some countries in Europe, decreased exports to the United States and Japan outweighed the gain from new markets. American and Japanese dealers had shown great concern over the irregular prices being quoted by local producers. This is a factor that undoubtedly contributed in no small measure to the reduced activities of American and Japanese buyers. It can only be solved by the producers themselves. IQ. addition to the above problem that GRADUATION lSSUE--April, 1952 faced the export business, the Associated Steamship Lines increased its freight rates by $2.00 on every one thousand board feet of logs or lumber shipped to the United States effective February 2, 1952. Then adding insult to injury, the shipping company started charging on the same date, $5.00 more on every one thousand board feet of logs or lumber shipped to the United States from out-of-the-way ports in the Philippines not classified as Class A ports. Considering the fact that the places of operation of the small producers are generally located away from ports classified as Class A ports, it is evident that these increases in freight rates weigh more heavily against the small producers catering to export trade than against the big producers whose places of operation are in most cases coincidentally located at Class A ports. Increased cost of production brought about by increased labor wages and high cost of equipment and supplies have made it impossible for some local producers now to bring their lumber to Manila where the wholesale price is lower than the combined cost of product, freight to Manila and stevedoring charges. Placed under this situation, these local producers have no other alternative than to dispose of their lumber in the provinces where they are operating. Eventually, this group of lumber producers may increase in number unless they could find ways and means of reducing their cost of production or unless the high cost of equipment and supplies will decline. Due to decreased demand for Philippine logs in the principal foreign markets, log pri.~es moved down to a lower level during the· period following the law of supply and demand. Veneer or Peeler Log Nos. 1 and 2, fifty per cent red and fifty per cent white were quoted at $50-$55 per thousand board feet, Brereton scale, F.O.B. Philippine po~. Page 29 Merchantable logs having the same proportion of red and white were quoted at $40-$45 per thousand board feet. While the present situation. of the lumber industry is not encouraging, the producers are looking forward to the day when our international economic relations with other countries will be favorable to the expansion of our lumber and timber exports. Many countries of the world need Philippine Mahogany for purposes to which it is specially suited. "The availability of Philippine Mahogany lumber and ti):llber in great quantities at comparatively lower cost than other woods having similar properties is a strong guaranty for a continued demand for it in foreign markets. In the meantime, the government plan to enter into barter trade agreement with other countries should be accelerated to boost our lumber and timber export trade. Local market for lumber and timber has a bright prospect in view of the industrialization· program of the government which is now actually taking shape. The unprecedented steps taken by the government to improve agriculture, the rehabilitation of the mining industry and others will redound to our national prosperity and will increase ou~ lumber and timber requirements annually. The tabl'e below shows the quantities of lumber and timber exported from the Philippines and their corresponding values, excluding the quantities purchased and inspected by the U.S. Army during the months of December, 1951, and January and February, 1952: Lumber Logs Destination Volume Value Volume Value (Bd. Ft.) Pesos (Bd. Ft.) Pesos Belgium --·-------·--------------------- 99,397 32,832.03 Canada ---------------------------·---· 22,888 5,839.75 England ----------------............................... 35,539 27,538.36 599,900 65,291.36 Erie --··················-------------·-····· 72,104 12,832.55 Formosa --·-······--·-------·------····· 1,279,570 101,197.74 Germany -----------------------------· 29,991 sample Guam -----------------------------------· 47,003 11,000.00 7,009 3,150.00 Hawaii .................. ,.~---------------------783,066 197,487.58 Hongkong ---------------------------- 1,760,949 254,835.76 Japan -----------------------------------· 450 sample 26,914,738 2,746,562.54 Singapore ---------------------------- 131,069 15,728.28 South Africa ---------------------.. 1,698,869 422,010.81 198,296 21,415.96 Spain ------------------------------------ 433 229.49 United States ---------------------- 7,532,891 1,894,259.88 6,080,508 1,082,500. 77 '.I'otal ---------------·--------·········· 12,053,589 2,858,866.21 35,241,081 4,035,846.65 Page 30 FORESTRY LEAVES FOREST-AN IMPORTANT ... (Continued from page 8) ings is expected to get under way in the near future. It is realized that the full effectiveness of the work of the Bur. of Forestry is in many ways handicapped through lack of sufficient appropriations. Travel allowances of field personnel are inadequate to safeguard· properly the forests from illegal exploitation. Much timber is destroyed without financial benefit to the Government because of itinerant squatters on public forest lands. We in the MSA are cognizant of these conditions and wish to offer every assistance to the Bureau of Forestry in furthering their correction. The Bureau of Forestry has a large responsibility in serving as the official custodian for: the protection and wise use and management of the forest wealth of this country. The effectiveness of that 'st~ wardship' has a most definite bearing on the Philippine economy both today and on down the years. This responsibility, it is believed, could very well be shared in greater degree with the public through special organized channels for dispensing information. The Bureau of Forestry has a "real story to tell" and one that with the help of a better informed public can go far toward alleviating financial anxieties concerned with the bureau's administration activities. The secret of life is not to do what you like, but to like what you do. -World Treasury of Proverbs * * * * If someone betray3 you once, it's his fault. If he betrays you twice, its your fault. -Rumanian Proverb * * * * He who marries might be sori-y. He who .does not will be sorry. -Czechoslovakian Proverb GRADUATION ISSUE-April, 1952 HOW TO PREPARE ... (Continued from page 19) material for compost. This has the advantage of the pile not to erode at the sides and scatter but the big drawback is the inconvenience of spading to blend the material and removing the . humus once ready for use. The temperature in the Philippines is fairly high throughout the years to favor the development within the pile of the organisms which are essential in good humus formation. The m(,>st important factor to control is moisture within the pile. The pile should be kept moist at all times, a condition which will not only favor the development of bacteria and other organisms but also encourage de~position. During the rainy season, thete is ~ot much need of spraying except of course ,during the spell of prolonged dry weat.ner. During the dry season, occasional spraying is neces~ary in order to keep the pile moist. Sta. Clara Lumber Co. Inc; Exporters of Philippine Mahogany and Dealers 1n Lumber and Kiln Dried Lumber Mill and Forest: Gingoog, Misamis Oriental Page 31