The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) has been working closely with the Canadian federal government to help form policies and programs to keep forest products businesses operating, workers safe and the essential products supply chain moving forward, during the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
News in lumber
Higher Softwood Lumber Prices Push Building Materials Prices Higher in July
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is reporting that in July’s Producer Price Index (PPI) prices paid for goods used in residential construction continued their upward path, increasing by 1.8% (not seasonally adjusted).
Mercer Celgar Workers in Castlegar Return to Work
According to Rose Leslie, a spokesperson for Mercer Celgar, at least 215 of the workers laid off during the temporary shutdown of the Castlegar mill in the beginning of July, have returned to work as of July 31st.
Truckload Freight Rates for Spot Loads Continue to Increase
Typically, spot truckload freight rates decline in late July. However, this year has been anything, but typical and spot truckload rates have increased for the second week in a row according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT One Load Board Network.
National Association of Home Builders Seeks Meeting with Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross in Regards Current Lumber Prices
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), near record and record high lumber prices, supply chain disruptions, along with U.S. imposed tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber imports are all contributing to price volatility in the marketplace.
Unusually Wet Summer in North – Central British Columbia Helps to Keep Wildfire Numbers Low
An unexpectedly wet summer, to date, in the North – Central interior of British Columbia has helped to keep wildfires unusually low.
J.D. Irving Completes $1.8 million Energy Efficient Investment at Ashland Maine Facility
In a news release, J.D. Irving is reporting that their sawmill in Ashland, Maine has recently completed a $ 1.8 million dollar energy efficient investment, which includes an upgrade to the boilers and an additional control room.
British Columbia Provincial Grant to Provide On-Site Work Experience to Nine Workers Affected by Recent Mill Curtailments
The Invasive Species Council of British Columbia (ISCBC) learned it will receive over $550,000 from the Province’s Community and Employer Partnerships program (CEP) to provide on-site work experience to up to nine workers affected by recent mill curtailments.
U.S. Commerce Enforcement and Compliance Division adding 60 Additional Days onto All Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Reviews
Deadline for all antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) administrative reviews pushed back 60 days, which will delay the anticipated duty adjustments on Canadian softwood lumber entering the U.S.
B.C. Sawmills High Operating Costs Slows Province and Industry Recovery
The British Columbia forest industry was deteriorating prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since mid-2019, B.C. has experienced a disproportionately high number of sawmill closures and curtailments compared with other states and provinces.