TRANSPORTATION SURVEY
TRANSPORTATION SURVEY —Continued from page 39 Curtis Struyk TMX Shipping Co., Inc. Morehead City, NC Even though the pressures and bottlenecks that the transportation industry was experiencing in 2022 have subsided, our export numbers have decreased. Our lumber and log shipments overall are down 20 percent year over year. We slowly saw the industry normalize over the last 12 months and it is back to pre-pandemic levels. Curtis Struyk I do not foresee any substantial increases in our export shipments over the next 12 months. Ongoing changes in global trade dynamics, regulations and geopolitical situations can influence supply chain strategies. Business may need to stay agile and adapt to evolving trade environments. Transportation rates are back to the levels we saw in 2019 and I do not see anything in the near future that is going to change that other than some global event such as natural disasters, geopolitical issues or pandemics. We are not currently seeing any real shortages in ocean containers at the major ports but we are seeing spotty shortages at some of our inland locations because of the decrease in imports replenishing those container pools. We saw a little uptick in shipments in the fourth quarter over the third quarter since the log season got off to a decent start. All indications are we should have a good log season that will carry into late spring 2024. The U.S. Federal Reserve plays a crucial role in managing inflation and interest rates. Changes in these factors can influence borrowing costs, spending and investment. Consumer spending is a significant driver of the U.S. economy. Factors such as consumer confidence, household income and access to credit can impact spending patterns. The interconnectedness of global economy means that international events, trade relations and geopolitical tensions can have repercussions for the U.S. economy and U.S. exports. China still accounts for 50 percent of our lumber and log exports. When half of our business is reliant on China and given the current tensions between the two countries, it makes us very concerned about our future. • RETAIL REVIEW — Continued from page 37 company in Texas, where it has five locations, with a sixth location in west Fort Worth to be opened next month. Wendy Stine, president of Stine, explained that all Cassity Jones Bossier City employees have accepted jobs with Stine. There will be no interruption of service and customers may continue to interact with the same employees with whom they have built relationships. Initial plans for the lumber yard include expanding product selection for the builder customer. In addition to Bossier City, Stine Louisiana locations include Sulphur, Lake Charles, Iowa, DeRidder, Natchitoches, Pineville, Eunice, Jennings, Crowley, Broussard and Walker. Stine began in Sulphur in 1946 and now has 12 locations throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. Stine was awarded the 2020 Company of the Year, greater than 100 employees, by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. To learn more about Stine, visit www.stinehome.com. Westcap Invests In Timber-Tech Truss Westcap Mgt. Ltd. of Saskatchewan, Canada has made an investment in Timber-Tech Truss Limited Partnership, which is the third buyout fund focused on succession and growth opportunities in Western Canada. Timber-Tech is a provider of engineered truss systems and engineered wood products, servicing customers throughout Western Canada. Founded in 1980, in Lethbridge, Alberta, the company has four decades of experience and has grown to operate three manufacturing facilities, which are located in Lethbridge, Calgary and Medicine Hat. With 52,000 square feet of combined manufacturing space and an employee base of 100, Timber-Tech can produce over 44,000 board feet per day. The company's ability to meet product demand on time through all cycles has earned Timber-Tech a long-standing reputation of credibility and reliability with the top builders across Western Canada. Timber-Tech has a wide range of customers across a large geographical region with a focus on servicing large, tract home builders in the Calgary region that require standard roof and floor trusses as well as engineered wood products. The company's products from the Medicine Hat and Lethbridge facilities are sold through a vast dealer network ranging from Southeastern British Columbia to Southwestern Saskatchewan. Between 2020 and 2023, Timber-Tech increased board foot production by 26 percent despite industry supply chain challenges and volatile commodity pricing by focusing on strategic growth in the Calgary region including the acquisition of a new facility in Calgary in 2018. This will continue the trend of interprovincial and international migration into the region and drive demand for new housing and commercial buildings. Species: Douglas Fir / Larch Douglas Fir Hem-Fir White Fir Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF) SPF South Western Woods (WW) Widths: 2 x 3 2 x 4 2 x 6 2 x 8 2 x 10 2 x 12 For more information, go to www.timbertech.com. • Connecting North American Forest Products Globally LIKE AND FOLLOW US @millerwoodtradepub www.millerwoodtradepub.com Engineered Long Length Dimension Lumber & Studs The Best of Nature & Engineering 541-475-2234 www.brightwood.com Est. 1960, Madras, OR Lengths: 6’ up to 60’ Hem-Fir 2 x 8 Douglas Fir 2 x 12 Longer Stronger Straighter SPF 2 x 6 Scott Hill ScottHi@brightwood.com 541-390-7668 Christy Hollenback ChristyH@brightwood.com 541-279-6525 Find your product solution with our versatile lines Page 40 Softwood Forest Products Buyer • March/April 2024 Softwood Forest Products Buyer • March/April 2024 Page 41
