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Page 38The Softwood Forest Products BuyerQUEBEC/ONATRIO TRENDS -Continued from page 34wholesaler will be ready to takeadvantage of opportunities when theyarise.“They’re doing OK at the moment,even though the economy is not doingwell,” he said of the United Statesbasedsales team. “We’ve got to getstarted.”SOUTHEAST TRENDS -Continued from page 27•difference is holding it back. Forexample, someone presented us agreen product and the price differencewas drastic. The green product was$100 a sheet for a product that goesfor $8 a sheet. Who’s going to buy it atthat higher price?”For the next six months the sourcesaid he expects challenging times. “Ithink the best hope for a pick up isspring of 2010. I think it will be a gradualpick up. When you’re at 407,000housing starts that’s a long way from1.5 million,” he said.In Louisiana the Northeast LouisianaHome Builders Assoc. said negativemedia attention of the United Stateshousing industry has people inLouisiana believing the same is truefor their state. According to the executiveofficer of the association, PaulStephenson, this is not the case.“Louisiana is not like other states,” hesaid. “Right now, if you listen to thenational media all you hear is how badthe housing economy is. You wouldthink foreclosures were everywhere.”A recent visit to the state by a nationaleconomist makes Stephenson’sclaims viable. The economist’s reportshowed that Louisiana had less than6/10th of 1 percent foreclosure.“That’s virtually none,” Stephensonexplained. “We know it happensnationwide, but it’s just not happeningmuch here. California, Arizona,Nevada and Michigan are all experiencingsevere problems. We don’t disputethat. But if you look at the facts,home prices doubled from 2001 to2006 in California. That’s unrealisticgrowth and unsustainable.”The only thing hurting the Louisianahome building industry according tothe economist is fear. “People seewhat’s happening nationally and thinkit must be happening here, too. Whatwe are trying to do is get the ‘word’ outto the public that the bad foreclosurerates in housing are occuring in severalother states but, it’s not happeningmuch here,” Stephenson added.In Mississippi a Southern Yellow Pinesupplier said business was severelydepressed. “We’re just surviving,” shesaid. “The cost of fuel is going up, andthis higher expense of delivering lumberand/or dimension to our customersis hard to absorb.”The contact said long-time loyal customerswere helping the companysurvive the challenges. “Being in businessover 25 years, you get to knowpeople,” she explained. “Some of ourcustomers have been with us sincethe beginning. We’ve been good tothem in good times, and they’rereturning the favor by being loyal to usin these slower economic times.”According to the source, housesbeing built in the area are smallertoday compared to two years ago.“We’re seeing much smaller houses.They’re being built in the 1,600-1,900square foot range now. Two years agothe average house being built was2,200-2,500 square feet,” she said. “Itis harder to sell lumber in this type ofeconomic climate.”Looking ahead the contact doesn’texpect a change until at least 2010.“When the housing industry reaches alevel of 50 percent recovery, thingswill improve. We don’t expect that tohappen until at least 2010,” sheexplained.•TRADE TALKPacific Western Wood WorksIntroduces New ProductsD e l t a , B . C . —Pacific WesternWood Works Ltd., based here, recentlyintroduced a new product line. Thelattice and Cedar accessory manufacturershave built a state-of-the-artfacility that specializesin highend finishing. “Weadded to our programsin the lastfew years. Wenow have a fullline of Clear finish,which, is A &Dennis Wight Better Clear aswell as the ClearVG in 1x4, 1x12, 5/4x12 and 2x4-2x12in S4S and S1S2E,” General ManagerDennis Wight said. “This program hasgiven us a competitive edge againstsome of the best in the world. Overthe last few quarters we have continuedto grow and we are receiving ahuge response from our current customerbase.With the majority of the firm’s customerslocated in the Northeast,Midwest and the Pacific Northwest,Wight said the company is expandinginto other markets. “A lot of peoplewould be really surprised at the rangeof product lines that our family businesscarries. We export to Japan andGermany, which are some of thetoughest quality-required markets inthe world,” he said.Wight also said variations of some ofthe company’s products are exportedoffshore.Pacific Western Wood Works Ltd., afamily-owned and operated business,has provided quality products andinnovative solutions for the WesternContinued on page 39PRIME LAND FOR SALE733 acres in Tallahatchie County,Mississippi. 128 acres of CRP pine, balanceis a mixture of mature hardwood and pine.Large creek runs the entire length of the property.Excellent Turkey and Deer club property.Only 20 minutes from Hwy. 55 and 45 minutesfrom Oxford, Ms.For more information contact:Sandy Haynes662-901-8100E-mail: barryshaynes@gmail.com