Wood Markets News


Colorado Based Timber Age Systems Inc. Expands Manufacturing of Recycled Low-Cost Wood Building Products

Timber Age Systems Inc., a Durango, Colorado based company that specializes in making cross-laminated timber (CLT) for sustainable building projects, has announced its plans to expand its manufacturing capacity and develop a new facility after receiving a grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity Program.

Elevated Home Prices Continue to Discourage a Portion of Prospective Buyers

Further data from the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) latest Housing Trends Report (HTR) reveals that the share of prospective buyers who are actively searching for a home declined in three of the four Census regions between the Q2 and Q3 of 2021: in the South, from 58% to 51%; in the West, from 72% to 65%; and in the Northeast, from 66% to 65%.

Mortgage Applications Decline in the Week Ending October 29, 2021

According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Application Survey (WMAS) for the week ending October 22, 2021, the Market Composite Index — a measure of mortgage loan application volume — decreased -3.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased by -4% compared with the previous week.

ADP Reports Private Sector Employment Increased by 571,000 Jobs in October — Nearly 5 Million Year to Date

According to the October ADP® National Employment Report™, nonfarm private sector employment increased by 571, 000 jobs from September to October. The ADP National Employment Report is produced by the ADP Research Institute® in collaboration with Moody’s Analytics. The report, which is derived from ADP’s actual payroll data, measures the change in total nonfarm private employment each month on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Total Value of Building Permits in Canada Increases 4.3% in September

Statistics Canada (StatsCan) reported today (11-2-21) that the total value of building permits in Canada increased 4.3% in September 2021 to $10.1 billion (CAD). Construction intentions in the residential sector were up 8.2%, while the non-residential sector decreased 3.2%. Overall, the residential sector rose 8.2% in September to $6.9 billion.

B.C Provincial Government to Discuss Next Steps on Old-Growth Logging with Release of Advisory Panel Findings

The Canadian press is reporting (11-2-21) that the British Columbia Provincial Government was expected to discuss today the next steps it will take on old-growth logging in the province. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy was scheduled to release the findings of an independent advisory panel established in June to help the province identify at-risk old-growth ecosystems and prioritize them for deferral from logging.

Turkish Küpeliler Endustri AS Places Orders with Siempelkamp for New OSB and Particleboard Plants

Küpeliler Endustri AS — Turkish based business dealing in cement, packaging, and wood-based panel industries — has placed orders with Siempelkamp for a new OSB and particleboard plant. The continuous OSB plant will be the first of its kind to be assembled in Turkey. The second new order was placed by Küpeliler Endustri with its German partner for its particleboard division.

Oregon Environmental Groups and Timber Industry Reach Agreement on Overhauling Management of Private Forestlands

Oregon’s Gov. Kate Brown’s office announced on Saturday (10-30-21) that, after a year of negotiations, an agreement has been reached to overhaul the management of 10 million acres of private forestland in Oregon. The new plan will boost protection for vulnerable fish and wildlife while at the same time shielding the timber industry’s ability to log.