Import/Export Wood Purchasing News December 2023/January 2024

GBM MEETING – Continued from page 16
Canadian Business Trends
Paul Bouchard and Chris Bouchard, BPWood Ltd.,
Penticton, BC
Anne and Jack Alley, and Kalayna Crook, Patrick Lumber
Company, Portland, OR
David Chu, Nathan Tellis, Don McGregor, Angela DeMarni and Martin Kincade,
Western Forest Products Inc., Vancouver, BC
Jarrett Enns, JE Construction, Abbotsford, BC; Rick Harris,
Delta Pacific, Vancouver, BC; and Tom Zhang, Pacific Hem-
Fir, Vancouver, BC
Yajuan Yu, China Wood Protection Industry Association, Shanghai, China; Jeff Honeysett,
The Teal-Jones Group, Surrey, BC; Nancy Xie, Forestry Innovation Investment
Ltd., Shanghai, China; Songyan Guan, China Wood Protection Industry Association,
Beijing, China
Ontario
With the American Thanksgiving and hunting season behind us, and as we
approach the Holiday Season, businesses are winding down for this usual break
and slowdown in business until the new year. They are taking this time to look
ahead and plan, while remaining cautiously optimistic that inflation will go
down, hardwood lumber and products sales will improve both on the domestic
and international markets, and that the new year will yield a better profit. With
demand still being down for hardwood products, it is challenging to find lumber
and logs as production has not increased much, and demand for finished goods
also remains on the slow side. Businesses are purchasing what they need for the
short term, only replenishing stocks as required. According to sources, industrial
products are more in demand at this time, with the railroad tie and wooden pallet
and container sectors the most significant end users. It was noted that 2023 was
heading to be a record low year for consumption of hardwoods.
Ash production has been steady over the summer, and so demand for this
species has been absorbing developing production, noted contacts. Kiln-dried
business is reported as decent, even though domestic and international markets
are not strong, it is however keeping inventories low for many grades and
thicknesses with prices being noted as steady to firm.
End users commented that Aspen supplies are ample. However, orders are a
challenge to find, with pricing being highly competitive. Some sawmills are keeping
their Aspen logs to a minimum at this time due to sales issues and possible
staining if this species is not sawn at the appropriate time. Demand for green
lumber is in line with production output.
Industries that were using Basswood as an alternative to the higher priced
species have reverted back to purchasing sheet stock or reverted to buying other
species. Competition for orders is intense noted contacts, with the Common
grades cited as problematic, although all grades appear to be under price pressure
at this time. Green production is low in several regions. With less Basswood
Quebec
The fall and early winter is seeing lackluster demand for lumber and finished
hardwood products. Secondary manufacturers such as residential flooring, cabinets,
wood components, some millwork and moulding manufacturers noted they
were keeping busy, compared to other markets. Several sawmills have reduced
their production as lack of available logs is making it challenging for them at this
time. Several contacts noted that inventories are low. With the Christmas Holiday
coming up, they don’t foresee any improvements over the near future.
Contacts noted green Ash is moving well for most grades and thicknesses,
with prices being firm. Exports at this time are steady with China being the main
buyer. On the domestic side, shipments are steady, although at low levels.
The wood components manufacturers, cabinets, and other finished goods are
more assertive with their purchases of the regionally important Hard Maple, as
are many wholesalers. End users have not increased their purchasing. Trends are
driven by tighter supplies. Some have expressed concerns there will be tighter
supplies in the coming months as prices continue to climb for this species.
Wholesalers, end users and distributors of Soft Maple are looking to fill inventories,
which have been depleted due to limited purchases in the past few months.
Developing supplies of green lumber are not that readily available, stated
contacts. As kiln-dryers did not process that much Soft Maple over the summer
months because of lower interest for this species it has resulted in weaker prices.
Many contacts noted they are low on specific grades and thicknesses of this
species.
Millwork and moulding manufacturers reduced their purchases of Basswood as
did the shutter and window blinds manufacturers. Wholesalers are also limiting
their purchases. Sawmill output has been low, and supply and demand has narrowed.
Green lumber supplies of Cherry have contracted said contacts. Kiln-drying
operations are looking for more Cherry to supply demand from China, which is
Import Wood Purchasing News - 2023-V3-100th.pdf 1 3/6/2023 9:41:52 AM
Continued on page 30
Continued on page 30
Yancey Ambrose, Doubletree Forest Products Ltd., Burnaby,
BC; and Maryna Sydorenko and Richard Kaufmann, Silva Timber
Products Ltd., Langley, BC
Fariba Gharaei, Axin Architecture Ltd., Vancouver, BC; Nadi Miri, M+ Architecture
Inc., North Vancouver, BC; and Jovan Gill, Jameson Craig and
Ajit Gill, Fraserview Cedar Products Ltd., Surrey, BC
Sven Gras and Harry Gras, Gras Wood Wide Bv, Zaandam, Netherlands; Steve Winstone, William Liu, Kevin Vandervoort
and Chris Bouchard, BPWood Ltd., Penticton, BC
Robert Tam, Triad Forest Products Ltd., Delta, BC; Yancey Ambrose, Doubletree Forest Products Ltd., Burnaby,
BC; Alexander McCarter, Triad Forest Products Ltd., Delta, BC; Trevor Tyrer, Trans-Pacific Trading Ltd., Richmond,
BC; and Lucas Rodakowski, Prime Forest Products LLC, Beaverton, OR
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Pei Husan Wu, Tzu Yuan Lin, Yun Hsuan Lin, Yu Shun Greenery Co. Ltd., Kaohsiung, Taiwan; and
John Wu, Jazz Forest Products Ltd., Abbotsford, BC
Pino Pucci, Alex Langley, Dennis Yano, Tolko Industries Ltd., Vernon, BC; Tetsuya
Nishishita, Kyoei Lumber Inc., Ehime, Japan
Page 18 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n December 2023/January 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n December 2023/January 2024 Page 19