06.11.2026
Meeting by videoconference on 22 October 2026, the ATIBT Marketing, Markets & Communication Committee launched a new format: one theme per session, short presentations and more time for discussion. Producers, traders and representatives of certification schemes shared their views on current conditions and on the European and Chinese markets.
The session opened with a roundtable on market conditions. Producers in Central Africa described difficult operating conditions: a sharp rise in diesel prices, disruption caused by heavy rains and margins squeezed by falling sale prices. In Europe, demand remains cautious. Members also discussed growing competition from other materials and the decision by SNCF, the French national railway company, to stop buying tropical timber railway sleepers.
Preliminary results of the study conducted by Probos on five Western European markets confirm that imports have declined over the past ten years. They show that sawn timber is the most resilient product and that the building envelope, cladding in particular, offers the greatest potential for certified timber. To better engage specifiers (architects, local authorities, public buyers), ATIBT will soon recruit a Markets Manager. The final version of the study is expected in November.
Studies of the Chinese market, carried out by ATIBT and Preferred by Nature, point to shrinking demand and a shift in taste towards lighter coloured woods. They make the case for a message centred on the reliability and traceability of certified timber. Tullia Baldassari added to this picture with feedback from the Macao Forum.
Finally, the Committee presented the Fair&Precious Academy, a digital campaign explaining key topics in accessible terms, launched in early November to mark the brand's 10th anniversary. The upcoming events are:
The next Committee meeting will take place in December. ATIBT members who wish to join the Marketing, Markets & Communication Committee should send their request to Nathalie Bouville.
