Wildfires continue to rage through Canada, and the western provinces have been particularly hard hit. On Tuesday afternoon, Canfor reacted to the wildfires by announcing that effective Monday, July 26, 2021, they would cut back output at their mills in British Columbia because of hundreds of blazes that have broken out.
News in lumber
National Lumber and Building Materials Association Participated in White House Supply Chain Summit
At the invitation of The White House and Biden Administration, the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) participated in a discussion on Friday, July 16, 2021 regarding concerns about ongoing lumber pricing volatility and other home building material supply chain issues.
Carbotech Group Acquires Autolog
Carbotech Group, a company that specializes in operational efficiency for the sawmill industry, with an emphasis on log and lumber handling, has announced that it has acquired Autolog, a company that specializes in wood process optimization and automation.
Transport Canada Orders Train Speed Reduction in All Areas with Extreme Fire Danger Risk
Transport Canada has ordered new safety measures for all rail operators nationwide aimed at reducing the risk of wildfires. The order, which went into effect on Sunday, July 11, 2021, will remain in place until October 31, 2021. The order requires railway companies to limit the speed of trains in all areas of the country that are facing extreme fire risk.
Canadian Lumber Production Declines -8.2% from March to April, Rises 45.4% Year-Over-Year
Statistics Canada (StatsCan) is reporting that Canadian lumber production by sawmills decreased -8.2% from March 2021 to 5170.3 thousand cubic meters in April 2021. However, production was 45.4% higher than in April 2020.
Interfor Corporation Completes Purchase of 4 Georgia-Pacific Sawmill Operations
Interfor Corporation announced on Friday (7-9-21) that it had completed the purchase transaction to acquire four sawmill operations from Georgia-Pacific, which was originally announced on May 27, 2021. The mills are located in Bay Springs, Mississippi, Fayette, Alabama, DeQuincy Louisiana, and Philomath Oregon.
Kristi Corporation to Invest in New Log Load and Fumigation Facility in Suffolk Virginia
Kristi Corporation, an exporter of a variety of logs, lumber and biomass from North America to over 40 countries worldwide, has announced it will be investing $1.1 million to set up a log load and fumigation facility in Suffolk, Virginia.
Roseburg Forest Products Announces Plans to Build State-of-the-Art Sawmill in Weldon, North Carolina
Roseburg Forest Products announced on Thursday, July 1st, 2021, that it intends to build a new high-capacity lumber mill in the town of Weldon, Halifax County, North Carolina.
10-year Agreement on Log Supply between Forest SA and KSI Sawmills Leads to Plans for New Sawmill
Backed by a 10-year log supply agreement between ForestSA and KSI Sawmills, KSI has announced its plan to build a new $4.5 (A$) sawmill near Murray Bridge. The new sawmill will not only increase needed timber supply but also create new local jobs.
Upgrades to their Monterra Lumber Facility Helps Weston Forest Increase Mill Production
As demand for lumber products rose dramatically in the summer last year, Weston Forest began looking for additional production capacity to add to their existing business.