Five months until the end of the year. It’s hard to believe that with seven months of 2025 behind us. While the picture certainly not been rosy, things are starting to look up for our beleaguered segment.

Sawmills across the board are reporting better than expected sales volumes and, even here at the association offices, we have been receiving requests from companies looking for timber suppliers and a list of sawmills. It appears they cannot find their requirements from their usual supplying mills. The cynic in me hopes this assumption is correct — and that the real issue isn’t that they’re struggling to find supply because they haven’t been paying their bills.

I am hopeful that our increased investment in industry promotion around locally produced, sawn timber is starting to bear fruit.

Looking back a few years, when the sawmilling industry faced similar challenges, there was limited focus in this respect.

Today, initiatives such as The Wood App, the Talking Timber webinar series, targeted social media efforts, and innovative product development are all contributing to a more positive narrative around our products.

We are working in close collaboration with our partners across the value chain — including Forestry South Africa and the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa — to share the good story of forestry and forest products. Added to this is the support from the timber products division of the dtic.

We are also grateful for the research and momentum driven by our academic partners, particularly the Universities of Pretoria and Stellenbosch. When this positive narrative is underpinned by science, it adds credibility and weight to our efforts.

On that note, I want to draw your attention to two major and interesting upcoming events.

Talking Timber Webinar: Thursday, 7 August | 13:00–14:30
As we explore smart and effective approaches to timber engineering, this session offers practical insights and innovative thinking from three industry experts — all aimed at helping you build better with wood.

• From Mass Timber to Smart Timber – Avoiding “Mess Timber”- Franco Piva – Director, Ergodomus
• Tips & Tricks for Timber Design and Detailing – Michael Kloos – Structural Engineer
• Advanced Fibre Solutions for Timber Performance and Durability in the Marketplace – Dan Tingley – Global Senior Structural Engineer and Wood Technologist

Please support these events as industry. You can register here.

Growing Timber Connections conference | 9 September 2025
The conference, is developing into an annual flagship event for the timber sector. Hosted by our friends at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Engineering and Technology Management, the conference brings together voices from across the built environment and beyond to explore the transformative potential of timber.

You will not be sorry, and it is well worth a visit up to Gauteng! Find out more here.

As with many things, we need to patient with the proverbial long game. But for now, let’s do what we sawmillers do best and that’s cutting straight and drying flat.Until next time, remember the age-old wisdom: 

Cheers,
Roy Southey
Executive Director: Sawmilling South Africa