The Softwood Forest Products Buyer - September/October 2022

SEC — Continued from page 2
million over the past year. January-June 2021 vs 2022 export revenue is up 43%
despite lower 2022 prices, and export volume is up 154%. Buyers in Pakistan,
which was a non-existent market for U.S. Softwoods prior to 2017, is now the
leading international market for Eastern White Pine, thanks to market development
efforts by SEC. During COVID, buyers in the country were largely unable
to source supply due to competition from buyers in the U.S., but with travel restrictions
lifted, SEC hosted a group of eight buyers from Pakistan on an inbound
mission in June where they met with suppliers.
As standing timber in much of the U.S. continues to increase, the supply of legally
harvested international timber is declining. A November 2022 ban on timber
sales of old growth forests in B.C. restricted harvests on 1.4 million acres (2.6
million hectares) and analysts project that this could result in the closure of 14-20
mills. Old growth logging, which constitutes one-quarter of B.C.’s annual timber
harvest is declining as availability of these forests is declining and becoming
more inaccessible. Prior to the Ukraine invasion, Russia exported 28 million cubic
meters of lumber annually, much of which is now subject to international conflict
timber bans. While half of Russia’s lumber exports are sold to China, China’s
flagging real estate market is likely to hamper those sales.
The U.S. also benefits from the global drive
toward legally harvested and sustainably
managed timber. Global furniture retailers are
increasingly demanding chain of custody certification
to ensure that the products they carry
are produced from legally harvested timber – a
move that is negatively affecting tropical timber
in favor of SFI certified U.S. timber. Finally,
South American producers such as Brazil are
facing massive annual losses which is pushing
log costs to a point where they are now higher
than in the U.S. Brazil’s National Institute for
Space Research estimated that between August
2020 and July 2021 3.3 million acres of
forestland was lost – a 22% increase from the
previous year. It marks the greatest area lost
to deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon since
2006 when a total area of 3.5 million acres was
cleared. These issues place the U.S. in a key position to improve its competitiveness
in international markets.
The last two years have been both a challenging time for U.S. producers and
a boon. While logistics will likely remain with us for a while, recent changes
in the domestic economy underscore the importance of remaining diversified
in our domestic and international markets. Thanks to sound forest management
laws and practices, while timber supply in other areas of the world is declining,
the U.S. has a long-term supply of timber – and our sustainable forest management
practices only bolster our marketability. The trade groups that promote
U.S. Softwoods internationally remained committed to promoting U.S, Softwood
lumber throughout the COVID travel bans and domestic market boom, and we are
now seeing customers return to international trade shows in greater numbers than
prior to COVID. These customers visit our booths looking for certified products,
suppliers who can provide a long-term supply, and alternatives to Russian Larch.
Others specifically seek out the U.S. booth looking for specific U.S. species such
as Eastern White Pine.
With COVID in the background, export is ready to flourish. It’s a lot of work,
but with so many factors working in our favor, it surely will be worth it. At a
minimum, tapping into this ocean of outside demand will allow U.S. lumber companies
to diversify their risk – and rewards, between domestic and international
business while finding new markets for our ample domestic timber supply. n
Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, GATS Database
WRCLA— Continued from page 7
sage seeded.” The course focuses mainly on WRC siding, including soffits and
trim, as it plays such a major role in the design and style of a home or building as
well as protecting it from the elements. The course also points out that although
the siding category has had a myriad of competitive man-made substitute products
that have appeared and disappeared over the decades, WRC siding has been a
popular constant for hundreds of years.
“We know that professionals and homeowners alike are genuinely surprised
when they learn that they literally have hundreds of options when it comes to
specifying finishes for siding and trim,” said Kirkbride. “Add in the different
textures, profiles and grades and you can create whatever design you want.” The
CEU covers the first and most simple non-maintenance option of leaving WRC
siding unfinished so it naturally turns gray over time. This option also has the advantage
of having the most benign environmental impact of all alternative product
choices for similar building applications, according to a recent third-party Life
Cycle Assessment of natural Western Red Cedar siding and decking.
As the majority of Western Red Cedar users will prefer a finish that preserves
the wood’s natural color and appearance, the range of natural finishes such as
transparent and semi-transparent stains is also explained. One technique that
is gaining in popularity is the use of bleaching and weathering products. These
are essentially water-repellent finishes containing pigments and other additives.
Bleaching stains accelerate the weathered, gray look faster and more evenly than
if the wood was left to naturally weather. After bleaching, the Western Red Cedar
can be left in its natural state or given a coat of clear sealer.
Included in the variety of finishing options available are opaque finishes; used
with finger-joint products or in cases where the color and natural grain of the
wood are not required, and the waxes and coatings used in interior applications.
The importance of using WRC products to mitigate climate change and the versatility
they offer are but two of the benefits that contribute to upselling Western
Red Cedar’s true value to the customer. The emerging area of biophilic design,
in which studies are showing that incorporating natural products like wood in
interior and exterior design have positive health benefits and help reduce stressrelated
illnesses, also resonates strongly with consumers and further differentiates
WRC from composite competitors.
By adhering to a consistent message and focusing on the value of their products,
the WRCLA is avoiding bombarding potential customers with meaningless
messages and instead are working to stand out from their competitors and create
long-term, happy customers by providing more value than anyone else. n
WHO’S WHO - Haddix Continued from page 2
in inside sales, special projects, and various informal leadership roles. In the summer
of 2021, she was promoted to Operations and revels in the variety of her new
position.
Asked to describe one of her favorite things about working at PLC, Haddix
said “Our customer service is second to none. Our goal is to help clients solve
problems and we work hard – as a team – to get the job done.”
Patrick Lumber Co. is a member of the North American Wholesale Lumber
Association, Portland Wholesale Lumber Association, National Wood Flooring
Association, National Hardwood Lumber Association, and Hoo-Hoo International.
Terry is active in several of these organizations – she is currently the Vice
President of the PWLA, and a member of the NAWLA Education Committee, as
well as a past President and current Supreme 9 in HHI.
Haddix graduated high school in Eatonville, WA and attended the ubiquitous
“School of Hard (lumber) Knocks.” She and her husband of 21 years, Bryan,
have a son and a daughter. Together, the couple are on the leadership team of an
organization that provides summer camp experiences to kids in the foster system.
Terry is also in the Rose Festival Clown Corps, where she has led groups of local
tradeswomen as they represent Rosie the Riveter in Rose Festival parades. She
is a proud dragon boater, and enjoys cake and cookie decorating. During the
pandemic, Terry discovered a new love for puzzles, and has recently decided to
go back to school to earn a degree in management.
Located in Portland, OR, Patrick Lumber Co. is a global wholesaler and
remanufacturer that sells its lumber products internationally. The company offers
rough lumber, boards, patterns and timbers including high end, appearance-grade
Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Hemlock, SYP, and AYC. •
For more information, Terry can be contacted at terryh@patlbr.com or
(503) 805-9899.
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