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 forestland in comparison to where the roads are etc, has meant long-term curtailments and closures as never seen before.In hindsight this might seem appropriate for…

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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 for industry and district heating. Waste-wood materials, such as sawdust, are bound into pellets in a high-temperature pelletization process; no additives or glues are used….

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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 pent-up US frustration over the behaviour of the WTO’s ultimate dispute-resolution body, the administration of President Donald Trump began blocking the appointment of new panellists….

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The full Madison’s Lumber Reporter North America softwood lumber price list will be updated as usual first thing Friday morning Eastern time, however here is a SNEAK PEAK at tomorrow’s benchmark WSPF prices: After staying flat last week, The price of benchmark softwood lumber item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir KD 2×4 #2&Btr again stayed flat this week, Nov 14, 2019, at US$396 mfbm, from US$396 mfbm last week. — Madison’s Lumber Reporter This week’s lumber market story published to the website Wednesday:…

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The U.S. Court of International Trade on Wednesday ordered the U.S. Department of Commerce to rethink its conclusion that certain cedar shakes and shingles made by Canada producers are subject to countermeasure tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber imports, saying that the determination is unlawful. Judge Jennifer Choe-Groves said that when the Commerce Department makes a determination on Whether an importer’s product is included in the scope of an anti-dumping or countervails duty order, the department must consider previous duty determinations…

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US GDP 3Q 2019 data shows investment was weak again. Yet residential investment picked up, at a 5.1% annual rate. The US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported that investment in US non-residential structures decreased at a 15.3% annual pace in 3Q 2019. Lodging investment decreased in 3Q, but lodging investment is up 6% year-over-year. Usually single family investment is the top category, although home improvement was the top category for five consecutive years following the housing bust. Then investment…

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The business of producing construction framing dimension softwood lumber in British Columbia just Got More Interesting: Great Pacific Capital Corporation, which already owns 51 per cent of shares in Canfor, will purchase the remaining 49 per cent at $16 each, in a deal that is estimated at more than $980 million. A special committee of lumber giant Canfor’s board has approved an almost $1-billion offer from a Jim Pattison company to take full control of the company. Late Monday night, Canfor issued a…

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The business of producing construction framing dimension softwood lumber in British Columbia just Got More Interesting: British Columbia has approved the transfer of Conifex’s forest licence in the Fort St. James, BC, area to Fort St. James Forest Products, a subsidiary of Hampton Lumber Mills. Conifex announced the $39 million sale in June, pending provincial approval. Conifex had suspended operations at its Fort St. James mill, putting more than 200 people out of work and prompting the district to declare…

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Average US House Sales Price vs Benchmark North American Construction Framing Dimension Softwood Lumber Prices: 3Q 2019 US house prices rose in August, up +0.2 percent from the previous month, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI).  House prices rose +4.6 percent from August 2018 to August 2019.  The previously reported +0.4 percent increase for July 2019 remains unchanged. Median US House Sales Price vs Benchmark North American Construction Framing Dimension Softwood Lumber Prices: 3Q 2019 The…

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After rising +$2 last week, the price of benchmark softwood lumber item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir KD 2×4 #2&Btr climbed further this week, Oct 24, 2019, up +$8 to US$378 mfbm; Utility/#3 grade 2×4 gained +$8 to US$250 mfbm.