Recent announcements of new mill investments in Scandinavia, the Baltic Rim and Northwest Russia have led to concern over increased competition, tighter fibre supply and higher raw material prices. Market concerns like these are often exacerbated by inadequate and inaccurate market data. Poor data leads to the inability to measure performance and assess the results of strategic initiatives. It also makes it impossible to identify performance gaps and eradicate supply chain inefficiencies.
Forest2Market, a leading provider of market data and analytics in the US, Canada and Brazil, and Indufor, a global forest consulting service provider, have formed a partnership to bring the first transaction-based log and fibre pricing and supply chain optimization system to this region.
For this new supply chain optimization system, Forest2Market will collect transaction data from subscribers and produce its flagship measurement tool, the wood raw material price benchmark. The benchmark serves as the foundation from which value-added analytical tools are produced to help subscribers reduce their costs and optimize their supply chains. Startup for this service is expected in 2015.
This service will bring a new level of confidence and transparency to the European forest products, timberland and bioenergy industries. For the first time, buyers and sellers will be able to clearly and confidently compare performance to market, accurately assess market prices and build strong partner relationships, as well as define, measure and adjust strategic decisions based on actual, real-time and actionable data.
“We are pleased to be working with Indufor to introduce our supply chain optimization system to Europe. We have used this system to help many of our clients in North America, and believe it will be of great value to European forest products industries as well,” said Pete Stewart, President and CEO of Forest2Market.
“Forest2Market is the only market service that creates and maintains its own proprietary database of actual transaction data. We have long-term, loyal industry relationships in North America since 2000, and in 2013, we expanded to Brazil with great success. We look forward to working with Indufor here in Scandinavia, the Baltic Rim and Russia to provide the industry with data and other powerful tools for improving business decisions.”
“We are pleased to be Forest2Market’s partner in Europe for this one of a kind benchmarking service that utilises actual transaction data,” said Jarno Seppälä, Head of Forest Industry & Bio Solutions Consulting at Indufor. “We strongly believe it will be a valuable addition to the general price information that is currently available and to existing supply chain analysis currently being conducted by industry players themselves. Now companies will be able to analyse the real efficiency of their operations.”
About Forest2Market
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Forest2Market provides market pricing data, benchmarks, supply chain expertise and other decision support services to customers in the forestry, wood and paper products and bioenergy and biochemicals industries. For more information, visit www.forest2market.com or read our blog athttp://blog.forest2market.com.
About Indufor
Indufor Oy is an independent international consulting company with the head office in Helsinki, Finland and regional offices in Auckland, New Zealand and Melbourne, Australia. The company provides world class advisory services to a wide range of public and private sector clients around the world in forestry, sustainable natural resource management and forest/bio industries. For more information, visit www.indufor.fi
Suz-Anne Kinney: +1 980 233 4021 or suz-anne.kinney@forest2market.com
