Business Trends Abroad

This year’s fire season came early with uncontrolled fires in every province across the country caused by unseasonably warm temperatures and little rain, making it difficult to battle wildfires. Environment Canada issued alerts of high air pollution in many areas downwind from the flames throughout the country. This fire season has already broken records for […]

With the July construction break behind us, business is slowly getting back to normal. Markets for most grade lumber items are weak, advised contacts, which is caused by the lackluster economy, and residential home construction is down. The economy is not strong presently, and uncertainty plays into the current pace of business. Some wholesalers and […]

Brazil – Brazilian exports of wood-based products (except pulp and paper) decreased 35 percent in value compared to last year, from US$503.3 million to US$329.2 million. The value of wooden furniture decreased from US$58.8 million in the second quarter of 2022 to US$52.1 million in the same period of 2023, an 11 percent fall. Tropical […]

Heading into spring, sawmill contacts noted they had lower log decks, while others had increased log inventories. Green lumber sales were reported as mixed with some saying they were slow, others noted they were fair, and some said it was good for them. Kiln-dried sales were reported as fair, while other areas noted they were […]

As we welcomed a late spring and warmer temperatures, logging activity had improved in most areas contacted. Sawmills advise decks are growing, and so lumber production increases were anticipated to follow. Cautious optimism was being felt as to demand from most markets would still gain momentum going forward. Kiln-dried Ash demand is reported as steady […]

Vietnam – According to the latest data available from the General Department of Customs Wood and Wood Products (W&WP) exports here were valued at US$1.2 billion in March of 2023, up 36 percent from February 2023, but down 23 percent compared to March 2022. WP exports stood at US$823 million, up 48 percent compared to […]

Vietnam – There has been a decline in wood and wood product (W&WP) exports to almost all markets at the beginning of 2023. Exports to the U.S., their top market, were valued at US$367.3 million, down 60 percent compared to the beginning of 2022, followed by the Chinese market (US$132.9 million, down one percent) and […]

Brazil – According to the International Wood Products Association (IWPA), recently, Brazil’s Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) issued Normative Instruction No. 24, which establishes criteria and procedures for the export, commercial purposes, of wood products and by-products of the new timber species included in the Annexes of the Convention on International […]

Ontario As we move into 2023, and remember the challenges faced and overcome of the past year, supply and demand are still off at this time. According to sources it seems there is a closer balance being experienced for certain grades and thicknesses for green lumber, but a different story for kiln-dried items. Markets are […]

Ontario As we head into the Holiday Season, there is the usual slowdown in logging activities and sawmill output. Mill output, it was reported, had increased compared to the previous year. Demand for hardwood finished goods has shifted to a moderated level. The gains in production were evident, and demand on the domestic front softened […]