West Fraser Timber Co’s shares rose by 2% as it reported second-quarter earnings of C$27m and earnings per share of C$0.63 on sales of C$774m.

The overall GCC interior contracting and fit-out market will increase by 87 percent in value this year, the highest increase since 2008, according to new research.

A near 9% fall in the global sawlog price index was recorded in the first quarter, according to the latest report from Wood Resource Quarterly.

Danish hardwood and panels supplier Dalhoff Larsen & Horneman A/S (DLH) has reported a fall in gross profits to DKK85 million ($14.62 million) in Q1 2012 from DKK102 million ($17.56 million) in Q1 2011.

Woodworking manufacturer Homag Group AG has announced a net profit of €3.2 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared to a profit of €1.5 million in Q1 2011.

Metsä Wood has recorded €4m in operating profits in the first quarter and believes profitability will strengthen in the second quarter.

The largest year on year output increase was seen in the transport equipment industries, which rose by 6.6% and in the machinery and equipment industries, which rose by 8.8 per cent when using comparative figures for October 2010 and 2011.

US-based Weyerhaeuser Company has reported net earnings of $157 million, or 0.29 per share, for the third quarter of 2011, compared to $1.1 billion, or $3.50 per share, for the same quarter of 2010.

New construction starts in September receded 1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $419.5 billion, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

Australian integrated forestry company Gunns Limited has reported a net loss after tax of AUD355.5 million ($373.2 million) for the year ended 30 June 2011, compared to a net profit of AUD28.5 million ($30 million) for the same period of 2010.