Q4 Forisk News Newsletter

Q4 Forisk News Welcome to the Q4 edition of the Forisk News Since the previous Forisk News went to press, the Forisk team presented research, participated in podcasts, and delivered workshops on timber market analysis, pulp mills and wood fiber markets, timberland investments, and mill capital investments to audiences and conferences in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, South Carolina, and Virginia. Download the Forisk News PDF Save the Date! Forisk's Applied Forest Finance Class will be held on February 23, 2027   Taught publicly once per year by Brooks Mendell, this live virtual class details the step-by-step financial analysis required to answer key investment and forest management questions. Attendees will learn how to identify, value, and rank timber and forestry investments.   Attendees receive digital copies of the updated Forest Finance Simplified handbook and the Aunt Fanny Learns Forestry book, as well as electronic reference materials and Excel models for reinforcing and applying the concepts learned during the course.   Registration will open in December!   This class qualifies for 6.0 Hours of Continuing Education credit for the following: CFE (Forestry), CLE/MTH (Georgia Master Timber Harvester / Logger), CPE (Accountancy), and Georgia Real Estate/ Appraisal.   Details are available here. Select Findings from the Q4 Forisk Research Quarterly (FRQ) Report The Q4 2026 Forisk Research Quarterly (FRQ) includes industry analysis and market forecasts through 2035 for timber prices, logging costs, lumber and panel production, paper and paperboard, forest supplies, and wood bioenergy markets. Forisk’s featured research examines the viability of new markets for wood fiber competition. Which technologies are more likely to shrink the gap left by closed mills in the near term? Specifically, which wood fiber segments, outside of the traditional pulp and OSB sectors, could consume an incremental one million tons of low-value fiber in the next three years? Q4 2026 AT A GLANCE Single family housing starts decreased 4.0% in Q3 relative to last year, while multifamily starts increased 5.5%. North American softwood lumber production rose 9% quarter-over-quarter but fell 2% year-over-year through Q2 2026. Through August, year-over-year U.S. softwood lumber imports declined 14% and hardwood lumber was flat. Southern stumpage prices decrease 5.5% in the U.S. South for 2026 while pulpwood prices fall 14%. In the Pacific Northwest, domestic Douglas-fir and hemlock prices increased in Q3 2026. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS Special Research Featured in the Q4 FRQ Report   Featured Research: Viability of New Markets for Wood Fiber Consumption Our featured research evaluates potential markets for low-value wood fiber products. Which technologies are more likely to shrink the gap left by closed mills in the near term? Specifically, which wood fiber segments, outside of the traditional pulp and OSB sectors, could consume an incremental one million tons of low-value fiber in the next three years?   Market Update, Q4 2026: In this edition of quarterly observations and summary analysis of forest industry trends, we first check the relationship between interest rates and timberland values. Then, we review the numbers connecting immigration and housing markets. Finally, we share the next “Reading the FRQ” guide.   Forisk Facts & Figures: Forisk’s quarterly “story in three slides” presents findings from Forisk’s silviculture survey program. Western managers lowered planting densities and are thinning less, previewing changes under consideration by southern managers. Western silviculture spending per acre fell in Coastal Washington and the Inland/East and returned to 2018 levels in Coastal Oregon.   To learn more about the Forisk Research Quarterly (FRQ) subscription, click here or contact Nick DiLuzio (ndiluzio@forisk.com). Forisk in the News Forisk article “Avoiding the Dumb Choice when Investing in Timberlands” featured in LandThink Forisk interviewed regarding wood supply chain evolution for Episode 2 of the FRA “Woods to Mill” Podcast Forisk Research Release, Oct. 14, 2026: FRQ Examines New Demand for Pulpwood and Residuals and Highlights Western Silviculture Survey Results Forisk Research Release, Sept. 24, 2026: Wood Fiber Markets Struggle with Pulpwood and Residuals in Q3 Forisk Research Release, Sept. 9, 2026: Southern US Sawmills Expand While Canadian Sawmills Close  Updates from Forisk November 10: Shawn Baker will speak at the Georgia SAF/ACF joint meeting in Macon, GA February 23, 2027: Forisk's Applied Forest Finance Class will be held virtually February 26, 2027: Brooks Mendell will speak at the Southern Pressure Treaters' Association Annual Meeting in Point Clear, AL  Recent Highlights from Forisk's Blog  Follow the links below to read Forisk's recent analysis related to timberland ownership, mill investments, and wood fiber prices. Click here to go directly to Forisk's blog page where you can sign up to get notified about new posts!  Revisiting Total Timberland Returns and Interest Rates U.S. Housing Starts Outlook, Q4 2026 Update Pellet Mill Risk Factor Analysis Western Canada’s Pulpwood Prices Slide in Q3 2026 Timberland’s Cash Yield vs. U.S. Treasuries: A 38-Year Gut Check We Analyze Timber Markets Because They Are Small and Unique Local Timber Markets Have Macroeconomic Exposures, Too Market Pressures and Policy Opportunities for the U.S. Pulp and Paper Sector Forisk Consulting, PO Box 5070, Athens, GA 30604, USA, (+1) 770-725-8447 Unsubscribe Manage preferences