Germany and Switzerland in The Second Half of February Actually Intensified in March

The upswing in demand that surfaced in Austria, Germany and Switzerland in the second half of February actually intensified in March. At the same time, a number of European export markets have picked up, as well. As a result, Central European OSB manufacturers have faced a dramatic improvement in order intake and revenues in March. Several companies far exceeded their targets and the previous year’s figures, with some even reporting double-digit growth rates compared with March 2011. This unexpectedly strong surge in demand is primarily linked to mark-ups announced by virtually all manufactures from the end of February onwards to apply to deliveries from the start or middle of April. Many buyers have thus ordered significantly more OSB in March after buying at relatively short notice because of an absence of problems sourcing material until the end of February. Buyers’ inventories have risen as a result after being scaled back in the second half of 2011 and being kept at a relatively low level in January and February. Source: euwid-wood-products