Contingencies (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Loss Contingency [Abstract]

Contingencies [Text Block]

16. CONTINGENCIES

Rayonier is engaged in various legal actions, including certain environmental matters that are discussed more fully in Note 15 — Liabilities for Dispositions and Discontinued Operations.

The Company has been named as a defendant in various other lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of business. While the Company has procured reasonable and customary insurance covering risks normally occurring in connection with its businesses, it has in certain cases retained some risk through the operation of self-insurance, primarily in the areas of workers’ compensation, property insurance and general liability. These other lawsuits and claims, either individually or in the aggregate, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flow.

Subsequent Event

On February 6, 2013, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) notified the Company and a number of other parties that it had commenced an anti-dumping investigation into imports of dissolving, cotton and bamboo pulp into China from the U.S., Canada and Brazil. The notice published by MOFCOM indicates that the investigation was initiated based on a petition filed by a number of primarily commodity viscose pulp manufacturers in China. Nonetheless, as currently scoped by MOFCOM, the investigation includes all dissolving pulp, including the Company's high alpha (high purity) cellulose specialties pulps.

According to the notice, the investigation period for dumping covers calendar year 2012, and the investigation period for purposes of determining potential injury to the Chinese cellulose pulp industry is from January 1, 2010 until December 31, 2012. During calendar year 2012, Rayonier shipped about 124,000 tons of pulp into China, with about 114,500 tons being our high alpha acetate and other high purity pulps. The remainder was commodity viscose pulps.  

Under Chinese law, the entire anti-dumping investigation process is expected to take 12 to 18 months. Based on detailed information required to be submitted, MOFCOM is expected to first make a preliminary determination of the dumping margin, if any, on a company-by-company basis within 6 to 9 months after initiation. Between 12 and 18 months from initiation, MOFCOM is then expected to issue its final dumping determination for each company. Final dumping duties, if any, are imposed for five years.

The Company will cooperate with this investigation. While no assurances can be given, it is not expected that this matter will have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Company.