Eucalyptus

The fastest-growing hardwood planted at scale, harvested on rotations as short as six or seven years, and the fibre behind a large share of the world's paper.

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Eucalyptus is why the centre of gravity of pulp production moved south. Brazilian plantations yield several times more wood per hectare per year than boreal forest, and short rotations mean a pulp mill can be supplied from land planted within the life of its own financing.

Where it grows

Native to Australia, but the commercially important volume is planted - Brazil above all, plus Chile, Uruguay, South Africa, Portugal and China.

What it is used for

Bleached hardwood kraft pulp, panels, charcoal for steelmaking, sawn timber and flooring from longer rotations, poles.

What to watch

Short-rotation eucalyptus is a pulpwood crop and is not interchangeable with temperate hardwood lumber. It grows with high internal stresses, so sawing it without distortion needs different handling from oak or maple.