Wood Markets News


Sanctions and Ports Closed to Russian Vessels Starting to Take Their Toll on Russian Lumber Markets

EU and other countries’ sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, coupled with rising transportation tariffs and a stronger Russian Ruble, has led to a steady decline lumber exports and made the production of lumber in Russia’s Northwest a losing proposition. Exports to Europe, the main market for sawmills in the Northwest, will end on July 9.

Dixie Wildfire Burnt Timber to Help Rebuild Destroyed Communities

The scars of last summer’s Dixie Fire can be clearly seen for miles in burnt California hillside and forestland. However, there is hope. The burnt timber has value and the newly created sawmill in Crescent Mills, California, is working as quickly as possible to convert those burnt timbers into viable lumber products that can be used to rebuild the area.

U.S. National Interagency Fire Center Wildfire Update for June 6, 2022

On Monday, the U.S. National Interagency Fire Center reported that the 2022 wildfire season continues to gain momentum and is currently at a at a pace that is well in excess of both 2021 and its 10-year average. Currently, more than 4,100 wildland firefighters and support personnel are assigned to incidents across the country.

Median Mortgage Payments Jump 8.8% Month-Over-Month in April 2022

The latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Purchase Applications Payment Index (PAPI) reveals that the median monthly payment for a new mortgage in April rose 8.8% to $1,889, up from March when it was $1,736. The national PAPI increased 7.8% to a reading of 162.7 in April, up from March’s reading of 150.9.

Maine’s Plan For Wood-Fired Power Plants Draws Both Praise and Doubts

In April, Maine Gov. Janet Mills signed into law legislation that establishes a program to commission projects that will burn wood to create electricity and also capture the heat produced for use on-site—heat that would go to waste in a conventional power plant. Some climate activists are cynical, saying questions remain as to whether the program will cut carbon emissions as intended.