North America Softwood Lumber Production, Sawmill Capacity: March 2018

North America Softwood Lumber Production, Sawmill Capacity: March 2018

Softwood lumber production in Canada dropped -2.4% in January to March 2018, from 7,249 million board feet to 7,074 mmfbm for the same time last year, said the Western Wood Products Association’s monthly Lumber Track Wednesday, In the US, softwood lumber production increased by +2.7%, at 8,557 million board feet versus 8,333 million the first three months of the previous year. North America Sawmill Capacity Utilization Rates Softwood lumber production in Canada dropped -2.4% in January to March 2018 while…

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Canadian International Merchandise Trade: Annual Review 2017

Canadian International Merchandise Trade: Annual Review 2017

On June 6 Statistics Canada released data showing, on a quarterly basis, the value of Canadian exports of lumber and other sawmill and millwork products declined in 1Q (-2.2%) and 3Q (-6.4 %) 2017. Canadian export values of softwood lumber fluctuated substantially throughout 2017, as softwood lumber duty rates and coverage varied, said StatsCan. The modest increase in 2Q exports (+0.3%) resulted from growth in prices and lower volumes, while higher prices combined with temporary tariff reprieves contributed to a sharp +13.7% 4Q…

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Canada Building Permits, Construction Investment: April and 1Q 2018

Canada Building Permits, Construction Investment: April and 1Q 2018

Canadian municipalities issued $7.8 billion worth of building permits in April, down -4.6% from March, said Statistics Canada June 6. Declines were reported in every component except commercial buildings. In the residential sector, the value of permits issued by municipalities fell 4.3% to $5.1 billion in April. Five provinces posted declines led by British Columbia. In the multi-family dwelling component, municipalities issued $2.7 billion worth of building permits in April, down 5.2% from March. Four provinces contributed to the drop, with British Columbia and Alberta recording…

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Madison’s Lumber Reporter Next Generation: Order Now!

Madison’s Lumber Reporter Next Generation: Order Now!

Madison’s is your premiere source for softwood lumber news, prices, industry insight and industry contacts. We have a variety of products to meet your information needs including: Madison’s Lumber Reporter ** ORDER IT TODAY** DON’T DELAY >>> http://forest2market.com/madisons-lumber-reporter Added value for subscribers includes access to historical data and the ability to filter and download data and save custom queries Vancouver, BC and Charlotte, NC May 15, 2018 — Today, Madison’s and Forest2Market announce a partnership formed to bring Madison’s Weekly…

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Politics Upends the Lumber Market

Politics Upends the Lumber Market

The unprecedented turned to the frankly surreal last week as Canada placed retaliatory duties on a wide range of US imports, including wood and paper products. The latest trade data, meanwhile, shows quite a glowing picture of product sales across the Canada-US border for 1Q 2018. Current Softwood Lumber Prices Compared to Recent and Historical Highs The recently-entrenched transportation and logistics issues are slowly getting worked through in the North American forestry supply chain, and now both CN Rail and…

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Canada Sawmill Production: March 2018

Canada Sawmill Production: March 2018

Lumber production in Canada rose +11.4% in March from February, to 5,898 thousand cubic metres of lumber, according to the latest update from Statistics Canada Monday. Production was -5.2% lower than in March 2017. Sawmills shipped 5,393 thousand cubic metres of lumber in March, up +10.5% from February and -7.6% lower than in March 2017.

US Home Sales, Housing Inventory: March & April 2018

US Home Sales, Housing Inventory: March & April 2018

US pending home sales fell 1.3% to a reading of 106.4 in April, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. NAR’s index of pending home sales hit a three-month low in April. The index tracks real-estate transactions in which a contract has been signed, but the transaction hasn’t closed. Meanwhile, in April, existing home sales fell 2.5% to an annualized rate of 5.46 million. On its own, this is not a remarkable story. What is more notable is the persistence…

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Canada Puts Duties on US Wood Products Imports

Canada Puts Duties on US Wood Products Imports

**edited headline to read “Wood Products” not “Softwood Lumber” As if this uncharted new territory of the current North American lumber market and prices wasn’t confusing enough, Thursday Canada put duties on a wide range of US imports, including some wood products. Canada intends to impose surtaxes or similar trade-restrictive countermeasures against up to C$16.6 billion in imports from the US. Aside from steel and aluminum, notable wood products will have a 10% or 15% tariff starting on July 1,…

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Sawmill Fatality

Sawmill Fatality

A worker was found pinned between a wood loader and a bundle of wood at the Rayonier Advanced Materials’ Chapleau, ON, facility, said Northern Ontario Business Monday. Two Ministry of Labour inspectors attended the scene. The industrial plant employs 150 people in Chapleau. “Rayonier Advanced Materials family suffered a tragic loss today at its Chapleau facility,” the company said in a statement Monday. “We learned with great sadness the passing of Mr. William Pye through an unfortunate accident at the…

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British Columbia Post-2017 Wildfire Update

British Columbia Post-2017 Wildfire Update

Further to our story last week https://madisonsreport.com/2018/05/24/british-columbia-log-and-timber-supply-update/ which detailed the latest data of timber loss for British Columbia following the terrible wildfires of 2017, this week Madison’s talked to wildfire ecologist Robert Gray for what turned out to be a rather gruesome update. Right now wildfire fighters in BC are battling a large numbers of forest fires, these almost entirely set by human activity. Northwest North America Post-Wildfire (Lack of) Strategy Readers will remember from last week’s issue, Albert Nussbaum…

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