Changes in the Market of Precious Wood: A Case Study of Submission System in Poland
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscript is quite focused on the particular case in Krosno, Poland and is more likely to be valuable for local researchers or traders of wooden materials than the scientific community in forestry area. The paper must be improved with background of references about the types of wood trade including discovered by the researchers pros and cons for any type. In the paper has to be conducted more profound comparison between "submissions" and "ordinary types" of wood trade. It has to be clearly specified in what form the wood is being supplied by submissions - in the form of raw materials or in logs. There are many factors have been described that influence the price of wood, but there are not any analyzes to support that claims. The paper can become a valuable one if it is extended by analyzes and datasets.
Author Response
The manuscript is quite focused on the particular case in Krosno, Poland and is more likely to be valuable for local researchers or traders of wooden materials than the scientific community in forestry area.
I generally agree. However, I believe that the European valuable timber market is made up of a network of local markets. This article describes one of them, and this is where its value lies
The paper must be improved with background of references about the types of wood trade including discovered by the researchers pros and cons for any type.
Consent. I think this will add to the value of the job.
In the paper has to be conducted more profound comparison between "submissions" and "ordinary types" of wood trade. It has to be clearly specified in what form the wood is being supplied by submissions - in the form of raw materials or in logs.
Submissions are a completely different type of selling compared to regular raw material. Different customers, different use, different prices. The article describes how to prepare the raw material for sale.
There are many factors have been described that influence the price of wood, but there are not any analyzes to support that claims. The paper can become a valuable one if it is extended by analyzes and datasets.
Factors influencing the price of wood raw material have been widely described in the literature. This article focuses on showing the price differences and long-term trends between types of wood. It seems that the average price and the range are sufficient to visualize the differences.
Reviewer 2 Report
A brief summary
The aim of the study was to carry out a detailed analysis of the quantity and obtained prices of individual types of wood offered on precious wood submissions taking place in the Krosno RDSF in 2000-2019, and analyse the decision accuracy on the basis of the financial benefits obtained from this form of sale of wood. I read this case report with great interest as it is relevant for the future to analyse in more detail the price- and wood supply fluctuations in the country level, and especially analyse the influence factors behind the changes in the long-term. This would help to foresight the demand in a more accurate level and prepare strategies. The study has a clear focus, but lacks more detailed discussion of the influence factors. The supply- and demand side should be considered more carefully: The forest structure and growth/forest management changes, market demand factors in the main export countries. It is not necessary in a case report perhaps to provide statistical analysis of e.g. structural changes, but the study would benefit of more novel statistical analysis methods. Currently the results provided mainly focus on annual-level data and averages, and it is unclear how the decision making is mirrored to these results. This kind of information can be obtained directly from the official statistics and therefore it is difficult to detect the added value of this report.
Broad comments
The aim of the study described is clear, but somewhat general and seems more like a statistical overview. It is unclear, what is the added value of such overview. This case report indeed has the basis to provide interesting new insights to decision making and demand forecasting, but for that the analysis requires more clearly presented and analysed factors separately in the supply and demand side. The introduction does not bring up factors in the bigger perspective affecting sales. It would be relevant to introduce e.g. the main export countries and discuss about their market demand in the wood material side. The intro lacks also detailed numbers of domestically produced intermediate wood products, thus it is unclear what is the general value chain structure domestically. Materials & Methods do state clearly the origin of the data. However, it does not clarify the methods used for the analysis. It mainly describes the general practices from harvest to processing and sales. As the results show amount of offered roundwood by species, it would be relevant to analyse the impact of general forest structure in Poland. E.g., has there been any changes in favored tree species in the forest management -side and if so, what are the causes? Conclusions drawn are general and should be more based on the insights found in this analysis. The report would benefit of additional (perhaps brief) literature review.
Specific comments
Lines 25-26
Please clarify first that you are referring to policies in Poland.
Line 69:
Please check the term “submissive yard”. It does not seem official term and the meaning is unclear
Lines 150-153:
This is an interesting observation from the demand side. Can some discussion be added of the new/emerging wood products which may again affect the prices in the future?
Lines 166-169:
As this is indeed a major factor affecting the decision accuracy, these factors should be at least discussed more to draw conclusions and answer the aim of the study.
Lines 177-187
This is an interesting influence factor which should be analysed perhaps more in comparison to other countries
Line 188
What kind of identification?
Lines 201-202
This is an obvious statement, not a result of the study. These kind of factors should be considered in more depth to bring value for the analysis.
Lines 204-206
How is this conclusion obtained considering the methods used in this study? It seems there are no quality measures used nor suitable assessment method used.
Author Response
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
A brief summary
The aim of the study was to carry out a detailed analysis of the quantity and obtained prices of individual types of wood offered on precious wood submissions taking place in the Krosno RDSF in 2000-2019, and analyse the decision accuracy on the basis of the financial benefits obtained from this form of sale of wood. I read this case report with great interest as it is relevant for the future to analyse in more detail the price- and wood supply fluctuations in the country level, and especially analyse the influence factors behind the changes in the long-term. This would help to foresight the demand in a more accurate level and prepare strategies. The study has a clear focus, but lacks more detailed discussion of the influence factors. The supply- and demand side should be considered more carefully: The forest structure and growth/forest management changes, market demand factors in the main export countries. It is not necessary in a case report perhaps to provide statistical analysis of e.g. structural changes, but the study would benefit of more novel statistical analysis methods. Currently the results provided mainly focus on annual-level data and averages, and it is unclear how the decision making is mirrored to these results. This kind of information can be obtained directly from the official statistics and therefore it is difficult to detect the added value of this report.
The timber submissions market is a niche market. The placement is usually organized under the account of known buyers. Buyers often come for single logs. Due to the costs of preparing the raw material before the submissions, the market is recognized both by customers and on the basis of sales results in previous years, assuming that 95% of the wood will be sold during the submissions. Thus, the sales results are, in a sense, an emanation of the current state of the valuable timber market in a given region and this is where the added value of this report lies.
Broad comments
The aim of the study described is clear, but somewhat general and seems more like a statistical overview. It is unclear, what is the added value of such overview. This case report indeed has the basis to provide interesting new insights to decision making and demand forecasting, but for that the analysis requires more clearly presented and analysed factors separately in the supply and demand side.
I have referred to this earlier
The introduction does not bring up factors in the bigger perspective affecting sales. It would be relevant to introduce e.g. the main export countries and discuss about their market demand in the wood material side. The intro lacks also detailed numbers of domestically produced intermediate wood products, thus it is unclear what is the general value chain structure domestically.
In the case of wood sold on submissions this type of information gives nothing. Logs are sold on submissions, which, according to the standards, can be classified as firewood. However, you get a price for them several times higher. Submission customers often come for one log. Comparing these customers with buyers buying millions of cubic meters does not add anything to this work because they are buying at completely different markets.
Materials & Methods do state clearly the origin of the data. However, it does not clarify the methods used for the analysis. It mainly describes the general practices from harvest to processing and sales. As the results show amount of offered roundwood by species, it would be relevant to analyse the impact of general forest structure in Poland. E.g., has there been any changes in favored tree species in the forest management -side and if so, what are the causes?
The current change in the preferences of species in forest management may affect the supply of wood raw material in Poland in a hundred years.
The submissions sell either rare species, or popular ones, but endowed with unusual or unique features. Thus, by definition, the structure of the species composition should not affect what and for what price is offered on submissions. A good example is the relation of wallpaper prices to the prices of paintings by masters
Conclusions drawn are general and should be more based on the insights found in this analysis. The report would benefit of additional (perhaps brief) literature review.
Agree
Specific comments
Lines 25-26
Please clarify first that you are referring to policies in Poland.
right
Line 69:
Please check the term “submissive yard”. It does not seem official term and the meaning is unclear
Submission yard
Lines 150-153:
This is an interesting observation from the demand side. Can some discussion be added of the new/emerging wood products which may again affect the prices in the future?
thank you, this is rather a topic for a separate discussion and very uncertain deliberations related to the development of technology and factors such as fashion
Lines 166-169:
As this is indeed a major factor affecting the decision accuracy, these factors should be at least discussed more to draw conclusions and answer the aim of the study.
I agree with this statement. The way of organizing the submissions described in the work, which consists of: tradition, market recognition, customer portfolio, preparation of logs on the square, experience and clear rules, guarantee commercial success.
Lines 177-187
This is an interesting influence factor which should be analysed perhaps more in comparison to other countries
This is a rather obvious factor, but its analysis requires additional research. We are currently analyzing the results of over 10 cyclical submissions taking place in various regions of Poland. After the research is completed, we will certainly be able to develop this aspect of the market. Here we focused on the factors that determine the success of a particular case.
Line 188
What kind of identification?
making it an identifiable product
Lines 201-202
This is an obvious statement, not a result of the study. These kind of factors should be considered in more depth to bring value for the analysis.
It is true, but it does not change that it is true. The article presents trends in changes in the demand for individual species, e.g. the proportion of beech or oak in the offer. It should be indicated why this is so, because the recognition of the demand and adjustment of the offer are important factors influencing the final success of the submissions
Lines 204-206
How is this conclusion obtained considering the methods used in this study? It seems there are no quality measures used nor suitable assessment method used.
The process of preparing a timber offer for submissions is described in the article. Wood for submissions is not selected randomly, it must have features that qualify it for this form of sale, e.g. be of an uncommon species, of appropriate sizes, and of special features that are not always included in the technical specifications for popular categories of raw material. In addition, this form of sale allows buyers to carry out their own inspection and carry out their own tests, e.g. of resonance properties. The prices are also proof of the quality
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The revised and improved manuscript is now suitable for publication. Only the figures need to be improved to some extent. It contents more and valuable references. The Figure 2 legend has to be moved away of the gridlines.
Author Response
The revised and improved manuscript is now suitable for publication. Only the figures need to be improved to some extent. It contents more and valuable references. The Figure 2 legend has to be moved away of the gridlines.
Thanks for your comments. Of course, the chart will be corrected
Reviewer 2 Report
The clarity of the manuscript is improved now sufficiently. The forest owner perspective was a good addition to the discussion and now there is a sufficient amount of references, showing that the authors have made a wider background review. I would still hope some quantitative detail information about the data used in the analysis, e.g. the annual amount of submissions executed. This information may be available in the origin data, but for the international readers it would be easier to read the basic info directly from the methods.
Author Response
The clarity of the manuscript is improved now sufficiently. The forest owner perspective was a good addition to the discussion and now there is a sufficient amount of references, showing that the authors have made a wider background review. I would still hope some quantitative detail information about the data used in the analysis, e.g. the annual amount of submissions executed. This information may be available in the origin data, but for the international readers it would be easier to read the basic info directly from the methods.
Thank you for contributing to improving the clarity and transparencyof our work. In fact, we have not written that submissions in Krosno
take place once a year.
We will add this information in the body of the article.
