Ten years ago, Forisk launched our flagship research product, the Forisk Research Quarterly (FRQ), which compiles our analysis on the major forest industry sectors; forecasts of wood supply, demand, prices, and their key drivers; and rotating featured research covering a number of topics in each issue.

Over the past 40 issues, we covered a lot of ground. A search of the most common terms in our research index should not surprise frequent readers of the blog (Figure). Terms like “timber”, “paper”, “lumber”, “prices”, and “models” are among the most common research topics. Timber supply is by far our most common research area, with 52 unique articles or figures over 40 issues, including 11 in-depth feature articles. Forecast models are our second most common topic, with 39 unique write-ups, including 19 feature articles (no surprise that some of our forecast model discussions overlap with timber supply).

Figure: Most common research topics in the Forisk Research Quarterly.

In 2024 alone, we wrote 47 unique pieces of research covering 23 topic areas. We wrote six articles apiece on timber supply, softwood lumber markets, and forecast models. Trade and tariffs followed close behind with 5 articles and mill production capacity featured 4 times. The eighteen other topic areas cover the gamut from Canada to carbon to cross laminated timber (CLT).

As we look ahead to the next decade, it is difficult to know what new topics might garner significant attention. None of us anticipated ten years ago that the coronavirus would spur 15 research pieces. Carbon markets, not a major research topic prior to 2020, comprised 14 articles in the past four years alone. We continue to focus on understanding timber markets from the ground, up, with an eye to key drivers of supply, demand, and prices. As always, we thank you for your support and interest in our research and look forward to future discussions.

To learn more about the Forisk Research Quarterly (FRQ), click here or email Nick DiLuzio at ndiluzio@forisk.com.