A major economic hub

Over the past 25 years, Wallonia has witnessed a dizzying technological boom in the high added value industries such as aeronautics, aerospace, NICT, telecommunications, biotechnology, new materials, automobile subcontracting and the food processing industry. This development is also true of timber, one of its major natural resources. As is true of many other countries, this industry has undergone far-reaching change over the past twenty or thirty years. Recently, the Walloon government adopted several measures to support the timber industry, to ensure that it keeps pace with developments in Europe. The industry, in the broadest sense of the term, from forestry management to the final use of the timber as a fuel, along with its processing and trade, in fact today employs almost 15,000 people in Wallonia and is the bread earner for around 6,500 companies and self-employed workers, generating an annual turnover of 4.5 billion euros.

Investing in Walloon timber

The timber industry also offers interesting prospects for foreign investors, who will find in Wallonia :

• a high-quality raw material, whether hardwood trees (oak, beech, ash, poplar, maple,…) or softwood trees (spruce, Douglas, larch, Scotch fir)
  
• a network of companies covering all the needs of the industry, but particularly dense in the field of the production and basic processing of the raw material
  
• a know-how based on century old traditions and experience
  
• a qualified workforce, trained to high standards
  
• a market that is receptive to timber
  
• certifications, labels and other rigorous technical approvals that guarantee a permanent concern for quality.
  

From the forest to the sawmill

The primary processing of the timber, which covers activities such as forestry development, sawing, slicing, wood peeling, drying and impregnation, is a sub-sector that is extremely well developed in Wallonia. The around 4,000 persons, both employees and self-employed workers alike, active in this sector annually harvest or process around 750,000 m² of hardwood and 2,800,000 m3 of softwood. In rather an astounding development, the production of sawn softwood has almost quadrupled in 20 years (today reaching a volume of 1,100,000 m³).

Over these past few years, the Walloon softwood sawmills have become heavily mechanised and are equipped with an extremely sophisticated process. Wallonia has, among others, two softwood sawmills that are considered as among the best in the world.

The Walloon hardwood sawmills boast an excellent brand image in the processing of noble species such as oak, beech, maple, ash, wild cherry, etc.

We should also underline the constant efforts made in the field of the conditioning of the products and artificial drying. In fact, over 60% of the Walloon sawmills today have their own drying installation, following a promotion campaign orchestrated and financially supported by the Walloon authorities a few years ago.

The Walloon timber industry, the recipe of a «Success Story» !

Wallonia is a green lung at the heart of Europe! Covered in majestic forests, this ecological paradise, appreciated by tourists and walkers alike, is also one of Wallonia’s major economic hubs. Indeed, the Walloon timber industry is where craftsmanship and industry, passion and professionalism come together. Its economic tissue is woven mainly out of increasingly specialised SME, who earn their living both from the simple export of the raw materials and from the primary and secondary processing of the timber. In short, a growth economic industry, underpinned by Wallonia’s ever-increasing expertise.

Hardwood and softwood forests cover almost 23% of Belgian territory. This amounts to almost 700,000 hectares, 80% of which are to be found in Wallonia, where forests cover almost one third of the territory and where they are spreading at a regular pace of 0.4% per annum. This forest, which is a source of green capital for the region (timber is Wallonia’s second natural resource after water), has for a long time now been dynamically managed with a real concern for sustainability.

As a matter of fact, Walloon timber is now reaching optimal quality, with a very enviable annual average productivity of 7 m³/ha. Well established and well respected on the domestic and international markets, the Walloon timber industry has succeeded in finding the right balance between innovation and tradition, with particular emphasis on training and the transmission of century old know-how.

Secondary processing witnessing steady growth

The secondary processing of the timber covers the manufacturers of furniture and boards, companies that manufacture wooden products and various other industries (bushel-making, brush factories, etc.). Today, this sector is witnessing sustained growth both in terms of production and export, encouraged by a whole range of incentives backed by the Walloon authorities and set up by the Agence wallonne à l’Exportation et aux Investissements étrangers - AWEX.

The manufacture of wooden board is one niche market that is notching up very good scores. The installation of a very large fibre board manufacturing unit (MDF) exploiting the raw materials originating in the softwood covered hills of the Ardennes and of the Eifel, essentially comprised of spruces, triggered phenomenal growth at the end of the 1990s.

Reputed for its quality, the Walloon « furniture » industry covers both the general furniture sector and the niche market of seats (sofas, armchairs, chairs, office furniture). These creative and innovative companies also offer a vast diversity of products.

The sub-sector formed by the manufacture of construction materials also offers a very broad range of high quality industrial products: doors, windows, parquet flooring, connecting timber work or timber frame houses.

Rightly riding the wave of the renewed interest in timber constructions and materials, Walloon companies can be characterised by their broad range of products, combined with their high degree of flexibility.

Pulp, paper and cardboard

The pulp, paper and cardboard industries make up the final link in the chain. Seven companies are active in this sector in Wallonia, linked in turn to large international groups. These companies employ over 3,000 persons and generate an annual accumulated turnover of over one billion euros.

The Walloon paper industry is moreover growing into an industry in its own right, respectful of its surroundings and of the ecosystem. In fact, it only uses forest or sawmill sub-products and has become very conscious of water-saving, as it has halved its consumption in twenty years.  The industry has also made considerable efforts to improve the energy efficiency of its production processes.

The trade in timber and finished or semi-finished timber products

Encouraged by a Walloon market thirsty for timber materials, the region is criss-crossed by a close network of merchants, wholesalers or retailers, providing the raw materials indispensable for local businesses involved in the secondary processing or the sale of finished or semi-finished products to the end consumers.

An economic and scientific framework

The Walloon timber industry is underpinned by a solid and high-quality economic and scientific community. This sector is broken down into several segments, accompanied by federations or professional unions that represent and defend them, encourage their development and offer a range of specialised services whether social, economic, technical, and environmental or in the field of export.

Generally speaking, these segments are « driven » by scientific research, whose field of activities ranges from genetic research on living materials to the promotion of a rational use of timber.

Quality secondary, higher and university education feeds the sector at all levels with a qualified workforce.

A specialised press and promotional bodies ensure the broad dissemination of information to professionals and the general public.

Finally, several « quality labels » have been created, based on the principle of positive discrimination.

As you see, the timber industry in Wallonia is resolutely turned towards the future thanks to the support offered by the pillars of training, promotion, information, tourist development and, of course, scientific research. Not forgetting the backing of the Walloon political authorities, who have pulled out all stops to make « their » timber industry a success story.