As Scotland works towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045, their woodlands and forestry sector will be playing a key role in their ability to achieve that goal. Scotland’s woodlands and forests have gown in land cover from 5% at the start of the 20th century to 19% today.
Wood Markets News
Mortgage Rates Climb Higher in Week Ending January 14th, 2021
Freddie Mac has released its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) for the week ending 14th January 2021. The PMMS reports that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.79% with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.65%.
Weekly Jobless Claims Move Higher in the Week Ending January 9th, 2021
The U.S. Department of Labor is reporting that an additional 965,000 Americans made their initial filing for unemployment benefits during the week ending on Saturday January 9th. An increase of 181,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 834,250, an increase of 18,250 from the previous week’s revised average.
Resolute Announces the Restart of the Ignace Ontario Sawmill
Resolute Forest Products has announced that it plans to restart sawmill operations at their Ignace Ontario sawmill on February 8th, 2021. The plant was closed two years ago due to poor market conditions. However, in anticipation of improved market conditions, Resolute has kept a handful of employees working at the facility keeping it maintained and ready to restart.
Itasca Capital Ltd Changes Name to GreenFirst Forest Products Inc.
Itasca Capital Ltd, has changed its name to GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. Effective January 13th, 2021, the company’s shares will be traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the new name and trading under the symbol “GFP”.
Associated Builders & Contractors Optimism Improved in Recent Construction Backlog Survey
According to a recently conducted Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) member survey the Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) rebounded slightly in December to a reading of 7.3 months, an increase of 0.1 months from November’s reading. The ABC Construction Confidence Index (CCI) readings for sales, profit margin and staffing levels also increased in December.
Consumer Price Index Moves Higher in December
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is reporting that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) prices increased 0.4% in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, after rising 0.2% in November.
Mortgage Applications Increased 16.7% in Week Ending January 8th, 2021
According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Application Survey, for the week ending January 8th , 2021, the Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 16.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
NewLife Forest Products Acquires Large Scale Industrial Manufacturing Site in Bellemont, Arizona
Good Earth Power AZ and its operating entity, NewLife Forest Products, one of Arizona’s leading forest products company, has acquired the former Essity AB., tissue production plant in Bellemont Arizona.
Sealaska To Exit Logging Business
Southeast Alaska’s regional Native corporation Sealaska, one of thirteen Alaska Native Regional Corporations, announced on Monday (1/11) that after 40-years they are transitioning out of the logging business.