Meeting Supply & Demand: The Shortage of Australian Timber

Why Is There a Shortage of Australian Timber?

Whilst we all understand the importance of sustainability, it is more top of mind when considering our own Australian species of timber. There is currently a serious shortage in the supply of Australian timber, the result of a combination of many factors including much needed legislation, natural disasters and a lack of foresight in predicting demand.

A review of the illegal logging act resulted in timber production from a prominent national raw material supplier being reduced due to breaching the regional forestry agreement code of practice around logging habitats of threatened species.

Following drought, fires and then floods throughout parts of our country over recent years, the supply of Australian timber has been severely impacted. This is coupled with a historical lack of investment and supply planning.

In February 2022, the Australian Government announced it will invest more than $86 million over five years to support the establishment of new plantations for future wood supply and environmental benefits.

Ensuring Supply through Responsible Forestry of Australian Species

Managed correctly, forestry is a renewable and sustainable industry that can be considered carbon neutral, supports wildlife and provides employment to local communities. With investment from the Australian government, the enforcement of the illegal logging act and sustainability standards, and consumers driving demand of responsibly sourced Australian timber, we hope to see a continued improvement to the supply of Australian timber in the coming years.

Havwoods EP110 Blackbutt timber flooring | Grace Boutique Apartments, SA

Australian Timber and Havwoods

Sustainability has long been a core focus for Havwoods. Our partners and products go through a strict auditing process to ensure all our timber products are sourced from both ethically and environmentally sustainable sources. All of our products are also manufactured to meet the European standards of quality as these standards are the highest available.

Our Australian Collection of timber flooring products is no exception. Sourced from ethical and responsible partners, we offer Australian Blackbutt, Spotted Gum and Tasmanian Oak timber flooring.

Whilst the newer forest plantations from the government investment begin to flourish, we recommend a 6-9 month lead time when requiring select products from Havwoods’ Australian Collection. Get in touch with a Havwoods expert to confirm quantities and timelines to meet your project requirements.

To see our Australian timber flooring collection in person, visit your local Havwoods showroom or order free samples online.