Author: Madison’s Lumber Reporter

  • Railway Layoffs, Bridge Fire

    A wooden railroad bridge near Minnesota’s border with Canada burned and collapsed early Wednesday, shutting a busy train route that connects the Pacific Coast with Chicago, according to Associated Press via New York Times Wednesday. The bridge in Koochiching County belonged to CN Rail. It carried more than 20 trains over the Rat Root River…

  • West Coast Log and Lumber Exports: 1Q 2015

    Log exports from Washington, Oregon, northern California, and Alaska totalled 272 mmfbm in 1Q 2015, a decrease of nearly 16 per cent compared to 4Q 2014, the US Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station reported Wednesday. During this same period, west coast lumber exports declined 4 per cent in volume to 162 mmfbm. Log and…

  • Canadian Economic Accounts: 1Q and March 2015

    Real gross domestic product (GDP) in Canada decreased 0.1 per cent in 1Q, following growth of 0.6 per cent in 4Q 2014. This was the first negative growth rate of real GDP since 2Q 2011. On a monthly basis, real GDP by industry fell 0.2 per cent in March. Final domestic demand fell 0.4 per…

  • Interfor Closes

    Less than three months after Interfor acquired a Tacoma Tideflats, WA, sawmill, affecting about 125 workers, the company has shut down the mill temporarily to take steps to return it to profitability. Interfor said that it curtailed production Friday at the former Simpson mill because of weak lumber prices and high production costs.

  • Global Transportation Development

    There is very exciting news this week about completed or announced transportation building projects in several jurisdictions globally. The Port of Prince Rupert, in northern British Columbia, and the newly-expanded Panama Canal have both finished extensive expansion projects. As well, China is planning major new railway lines internally and elsewhere. On May 19 was held…