Wood Markets News


African Forestry and Timber Trading Firm Woodbois Limited Reports Improved Revenues in H1 2021

Woodbois Limited, an African forestry and timber trading firm, has reported increased revenues in the first 6-months of 2021 and expects sawn timber output to grow by 30% in the remain 6-months of the year. Woodbois, with sawmilling and veneer operations in Gabon, recorded revenues of US$8.2 million in the first 6-months of 2021, up from US$6.7 million, in the previous six-month period.

Mortgage Rates Drop to 2.90% in the Week Ending July 8, 2021

Freddie Mac has released its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) for the week ending July 8, 2021. The PMMS reports that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.90% with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.98%. A year ago, at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.03%.

Weekly Jobless Claims Decline in the Week Ending July 3, 2021

The U.S. Department of Labor is reporting that an additional 373,000 Americans made their initial filing for unemployment benefits during the week ending on Saturday, July 3, 2021. This is an increase of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 394,500, a decrease of 250 from the previous week’s revised average.

Bark Beetle Infestation and Drought Creates Dangerous Wildfire Conditions in California Forested Lands

The bark beetle infestation that destroyed large portions of forest in the southern Sierra Nevada’s has moved into the North State, killing millions of trees and adding fuel to an already dangerous wildfire season. And according to the U.S. Forest Service, the federal agency responsible for managing much of California’s forested lands, it is a problem that won’t be going away anytime soon.

Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey for May 2021

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) today (7-7-21) reported its Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for May 2021. According to the JOLTS report, as of the last business day in May, the number and rate of job openings was little changed at 9.2 million.