This is part one of a series evaluating the impacts of Hurricane Helene on timber markets in Georgia. On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida as a Category 4 storm. Helene entered more… The post Evaluating the Impacts of Hurricane Helene in Georgia – Part I appeared first on Forisk ..read more

Recently, at the CANOPY forestland investment conference in Portland, I participated on a panel about pulpwood markets in the U.S. South. While the region enjoys abundant forest resources and dozens of new wood-using mills, it has also seen the closure more… The post Evaluating Mill Risk when Analyzing Timber Markets and Wood Baskets appeared first on Forisk ..read more

U.S. wood pellet production facilities can be classified into two categories: “industrial grade,” which is mostly produced in the South and “domestic use grade,” which is primarily produced in the East and West. In addition to different end uses, the more… The post Wood Pellet Producer Operating Rates by Region Based on EIA Data appeared first on Forisk ..read more

In the forest industry, we study timber markets and the underlying data to understand relationships and risks. For timberland investing and the procurement of wood, systematic frameworks and proven processes help us analyze and compare markets and wood baskets to more… The post Analyzing Timber Markets to Customize Forecasts and Make Investment Decisions appeared first on Forisk ..read more

This blog includes data from Forisk’s North American Mill Capacity Database, a database of over 2,300 wood-using mills in North America. For more information on the mill database or Forisk’s other products, please visit  or contact Nick DiLuzio at ndiluzio@forisk.com. more… The post Forisk Market Bulletin: September 2024 Mill Update appeared first on Forisk ..read more

This post includes content from the 7th edition of Forest Finance Simplified (forthcoming) and the upcoming Timber Market Analysis course (delivered virtually on October 16th & 17th).. Investors prefer assets that do not correlate with the stock market because they more… The post Timberland Investment Correlation and Diversification appeared first on Forisk ..read more

This post includes data from Forisk’s Timberland Transactions Database and research from the Forisk Research Quarterly.   We recently reviewed timberland transaction volume going back to 2014. We noted that 2023 was a slow year with just over 1 million more… The post 2024Q3 Timberland Transactions Review appeared first on Forisk ..read more

“Nothing travels faster than the speed of light, with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws.” – Douglas Adams While attending a recent forestry meeting, I received a text message about more sawmills closing due more… The post North America’s Forest Industry Contraction appeared first on Forisk ..read more

This post includes data from the Q3 2024 Forisk Research Quarterly (FRQ) and Forisk’s new digital platform for the North American Mill Capacity Database. Over the past 50 years, major shifts in the regional distribution of lumber capacity across North more… The post Softwood Lumber Capacity Continues to Migrate Across North America appeared first on Forisk ..read more

A high interest rate environment has supported lowered expectations for housing starts this year. Seven of eight independently published forecasts revised their 2024 view of U.S. housing starts downward since last quarter, as inflation readings this year have remained above the Federal Reserve’s 2% Y/Y target. While inflation is slowing, the Federal Reserve remains steadfast in its goal to lower inflation and, as a result, mortgage rates reached 23-year highs of 7.0% throughout Q2 (and an average of 6.9% month to date). This post reviews Forisk’s updated forecast on housing starts over the nex ..read more