Sawmilling South Africa News

Here we are almost at the end of another year and as this is the last newsletter for 2025, it’s time to wish you all a blessed and restful Christmas and a prosperous, “full order book” new Year.

This year started off on a tough note for the industry, but it seems that there are signs of “green shoots” with our sawmills reporting better than expected sales volumes. We now need to get the values moving so that we can look forward to good 2026.

Sawdoctor qualification progress
The past month saw a major milestone being accomplished for the sector especially our sawdoctors with the completion of the pilot programme in the sawdoctoring trade test development.

A few weeks ago, we came together with sawdoctors from all over South Africa, joined by the FP&M SETA, the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, the National Artisan Moderation Body, and our tireless SSA project leader, Dianne Randall. Our own association staff from Pietermaritzburg and the Bracken Sawmill in Greytown rounded out the team.

The objective of the pilot was to put a group of current sawdoctors through the theory and practical assessments that have been collaboratively developed and refined by all the partners over the past seven years. This allowed the QCTO and the National Artisan Moderation Body to evaluate both the testing process itself and the capability of the sawdoctors to successfully carry out the trade test.

I am pleased to say that both the sawdoctors and the trade test curricula passed with flying colours. This is a major step in the final development of the trade and we now expect that the trade of sawdoctor will very soon be registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training, and available to training providers for the official training of South Africa sawdoctors.

Uptick in timber sales
As noted earlier, mills are seeing stronger-than-expected sales, with some reporting stock levels falling to below three weeks — a situation last seen three or four years ago. This upswing is driving heightened merger and acquisition activity and attracting renewed interest from offshore investors who recognise the potential of South Africa’s sawmilling sector. Together with positive signals from Government, the outlook for the industry is looking increasingly encouraging. We also hope that this is also thanks to the work by many stakeholders and partners in promoting the use of timber is the built environment.

Talking Timber webinars
Earlier this month, our Talking Timber team hosted the final webinar for the year, focusing on membranes, moisture, and fire performance in timber construction. Representatives from our webinar sponsors Rothoblaas and Rhinowood took attendees through various aspects of moisture control, airtightness, and fire performance. We are continually encouraged by the increasing participation of architects and structural engineers. We are always grateful for the continued support of the University of Pretoria and Stellenbosch University, as well as the dtic.

Showcasing Timber at the Green Building Convention 
This year, SSA supported the timber stand hosted by the University of Pretoria and the York Timbers Chair, a showcase that did far more than display wood products. It told a powerful story: one about choosing materials that heal rather than harm, that store carbon rather than release it, and that leave a legacy rather than a footprint.

The message was simple but transformative — the future of construction is rooted in nature. When timber leads, better buildings follow.

Well done to Prof. Schalk Grobbelaar and his team for creating a standout presence at the Green Building Convention — one that elevated the conversation around sustainable construction and showcased the true potential of South Africa’s home-grown timber industry.

Wrapping up
Michael Peters, executive director of Forestry South Africa, spoke at the AGM of the South African Forestry Contractors Association at which he spelt out just how positive the future looks for the forest sector in our country. You can find his address here.

I hope that we can put the bad times behind us and look to a bright and positive year ahead, but only if we can cut straight, dry flat and keep promoting the good story of home-grown timber.

Cheers from all of us all at SSA. Have a good rest and safe travels, because you will need to come out fighting next year.

Cheers,
Roy Southey
Executive Director: Sawmilling South Africa

Source: Sawmilling South Africa