Carsten Merforth

Chief Operating Officer of Wood Products, Mercer Intl

Search every verified Carsten Merforth interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Carsten Merforth, Chief Operating Officer of Wood Products at Mercer International, stated in September 2024 that the company's lumber segment is operating at economic limits where accepting lower prices is no longer viable. He said that demand and prices declined quarter by quarter across all areas, particularly in pallet and construction lumber, and that production had been reduced at the Torgau site due to weaker demand. Merforth described the current price level for pallet and lumber as "at the bottom." Merforth noted that the North American market performed similarly to Germany, with higher expectations for the second quarter of 2024 not being met, resulting in a prolonged sideways movement in demand and prices. He expressed a positive outlook for cross-laminated timber (CLT), describing it as a strongly growing market where Mercer is positioned as a leading producer. Merforth stated that the construction downturn will eventually end and that the long-term prospects for wood construction and the bioeconomy remain strong, though the industry must endure the current difficult period.