South Africa’s rising demand for timber in the past six months may lead to shortages and result in imports for the construction and building industries, the Financial Mail said, citing unidentified people in the timber industry.

If the pace of demand continues there will be a shortage of the building material, the Johannesburg-based weekly magazine cited Pieter van Zyl, chief executive officer of York Timber Holdings Ltd. (YRK), as saying.

The shortage was caused by fires that damaged about 70,000 hectares (173,000 acres) of forestry over the past few years, said the FM.

Source:Bloomburg Business Week

Posted and edited by Riona, Hanbao News Department

Contact: rionach@cltimber.com