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US House Prices vs. Softwood Lumber Prices: Dec 2019
Median US House Sales Price vs Benchmark North American Construction Framing Dimension Softwood Lumber Prices: 3Q 2019 US house prices rose in 3Q 2019, up +1.1 per cent according to the US Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI), released November 26. House prices in the US rose +4.9 per cent from 3Q…
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New NAFTA Deal Signed, Softwood Lumber Prices Hold Steady
A significant uncertainty for North American business owners was resolved Tuesday as Canada, the US, and Mexico signed the new trilateral trade agreement, the CUSMA. Full details will be revealed soon, and the new deal will take effect January 1, 2020. Also this week the Western Wood Products Association released its latest monthly Lumber Track…
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Looking Forward to 2020: Global Forest Industry
This year is not over yet, but it has been one of a never-before combination of circumstances. Dire circumstances. Storms, floods, fires, in residential areas and in the forest. Adjusting to the new economics of the business of making and selling lumber has not been easy. The economic reality of the condition of the harvestable…
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Biomass Fuel Developments, Research Update
There have been several developments, both industrial and scientific, in the exciting field of generating energy from woody biomass material. Here are a few updates:According to University of British Columbia Chemical and Biological Engineering Professor Xiaotao (Tony) Bi, wood pellets are the best choice for residential heating. Environmentally speaking, wood pellets are an ideal fuel…
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Softwood Lumber Prices Stabilize, WTO Could Stall Next Week
On December 10th is the deadline for retirement of two of the three remaining Appellate Judges at the World Trade Organization, where there are currently disputes revolving around North American softwood lumber. This WTO appellate panel, which usually has seven people, now only has the legal minimum of three, until December 10. Following years of…
