Forest Sector Outlook 2026: Weak Demand, Solid Base
The Q2 2026 forest sector outlook finds wood products caught between weak demand and strong fundamentals, with China, energy costs and the EUDR in focus.
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International Paper Temporarily Suspends Pine Hill, Alabama Mill After Weather Damages Roof Structure
International Paper suspended operations at its Pine Hill, Alabama mill on July 9, 2026, after a weather event damaged a critical roof structure. With a restart targeted for August, the event raises questions about regional timber supply and where Pine Hill fits in IP’s ongoing restructuring.
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Lumber Cost Decreases Offset by Operating Cost Gains
Canadian lumber prices are well off their pandemic peaks, but sawmill operators and lumber producers are discovering that falling commodity prices don’t automatically translate into better margins — not when operating costs refuse to follow prices down.
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Pulp Mill to Trial New Lithium Processing Technique Using Crude Tall Oil
A Thunder Bay kraft mill is partnering with Rock Tech Lithium to test whether crude tall oil — a byproduct of the pulping process — can be used in lithium extraction. If it works, it could open a new revenue stream for pulp producers across Canada.
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Tariffs Are Reshaping the 2026 Wood Products Market: A Segment-by-Segment Breakdown
Duties on Canadian lumber rose from 14% to 35% in 2025, then a 10% Section 232 tariff piled on. Mid-2026 brings a preliminary rollback — but the effective rate holds near 35%. Here’s what each market segment faces.
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International Paper’s $360M North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC) Purchase
International Paper (IP) has finalized a definitive agreement to acquire North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC) from private equity firm One Rock Capital Partners for $360 million, a move that’s set to supercharge its industrial packaging dominance in the U.S. Read the official announcement here. Nestled in Longview, Washington—a hub for Pacific Northwest forestry—the NORPAC mill…
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Milwaukee Mass Timber Project Stalls as Foreclosure Looms
The Milwaukee mass timber project known as The Edison — billed as the tallest of its kind in the United States — has stalled after tariffs and inflation drove costs $25 million over budget. Its general contractor filed for foreclosure in March 2026, and the developer has gone silent.
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Weyerhaeuser’s Strategic Shift After Pulp Mill Closures
Weyerhaeuser’s response to pulp mill closures highlights how changing fiber markets, biocarbon production, and engineered wood investments are reshaping North American forestry and timber supply.
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Mississippi Agriculture in 2025: Commodity Performance and Southern Comparisons
An overview of Mississippi’s 2025 agricultural production value, key commodities, and how the state compares with other southern agricultural economies.
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The Working Forest Lumber Forecast – December 2025
December 2025 Working Forest Lumber Forecast: updated market data, demand and supply indicators, and prospects for North American softwood lumber.
