38 | Panel Perspectives: Richmond Plywood
“We have a very diverse product mix so we can consume all those species and put them in our panel constructions to meet the demands in the construction industry, both for residential and commercial building,” added Mr Sutherland.
MARKETS Richply consumes 500,000m3
of logs
every year, equating to an annual plywood production of approximately 220,000m3
.
“Our shipment geography is primarily North America, with Canada as the largest market,” explained Mr Sutherland. “We do have a significant volume that has been going into the US.”
Recent declarations on tariffs by the new US president are being watched closely by Richply.
Mr Sutherland said Canada and the US had close trading relationships in many industries, so both economies are closely connected.
“By and large it has been a mutually beneficial economic arrangement between our two countries. The US is part of our geographic mix in terms of our shipments but [the latest tariffs declarations] is opening our eyes that we should be more diversified like we were in the past.”
He explained that the US-Canadian
Top: Inside part of the mill’s control room Centre: New lay-up line from Raute Above: Richply’s Ultra HDO Plus product
WBPI | February/March 2025 |
www.wbpionline.com
plywood trade enjoyed a more even trade balance, with companies in both countries sending their plywood across the border. Canadian forest products industries, he said, used to have much bigger European export programmes, with a particular strong following in the UK and Ireland – though this is more limited than it was decades ago. A new development is the appointment of Graeme Holburn & Co Ltd as Richply’s UK and Ireland sales agent. This follows the retirement of Tony Muskat, the long-serving agent representing Richply in the UK. “We were delighted to sign up with Graeme Holburn last summer, we think they have a great reputation,” said Mr Sutherland. “Gary Mitchell at Graeme Holburn is very familiar with us and the products. We felt strongly that we needed someone to be our eyes and ears to continue to represent us in the UK. “We want to remind people that Canada is here and has been a big exporter to the UK market in the past, and I think we can be again. Richply has been one of those companies that has maintained a presence on the UK market consistently.” The UK and Ireland is Richply’s primary offshore market outside of North America, with the concrete formwork overlay plywood the most significant product. There is also export business on the European continent, the Pacific Rim (Japan and Korea) and central America.
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