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Timber Market Analysis (TMA) is a process of systematically evaluating and tracking local wood raw material markets for investing in and managing timberlands and wood-using facilities. The TMA process prioritizes questions, aggregates data, conducts analysis and communicates results and recommendations. more…
To change a system or improve a process, you must understand how it works. And part of this requires understanding constraints, boundaries and capabilities. As Dirty Harry said (when discussing the importance of rigorous due diligence, I believe), “a man’s more…
When assessing timber markets and wood baskets for forest industry and timberland investments, one line of analysis focuses on the “riskiness”, likelihood and competitiveness of existing and announced wood-using manufacturing facilities in and near the market. Timberland investors want to more…
This is the third in a series related to Forisk’s Q1 2018 forest industry analysis and timber price forecasts for the United States and Canada. The following is an excerpt from the Forisk Facts & Figures column, Forisk’s quarterly “story more…
This post includes an excerpt from the Q4 2017 Forisk Research Quarterly feature article, “Local Projections and Pricing Impacts of Timber Supplies in the U.S. South” authored by Amanda Lang, Shawn Baker, and Brooks Mendell Each year, Forisk estimates future more…
Our previous blog on the uniqueness of individual timber markets and wood baskets generated questions and follow-ups on the tyranny of regional averages and the challenge of localizing price forecasts. In our world, there is no such thing as an more…
In the book “The End of Average,” author Todd Rose talks about the “tyranny of the average.” For any group of people, we can estimate an average height and average weight and average test score, and all of this leads more…
The pursuit of the ‘preferred answer’ starts early in life. Any two-year old knows to ask Dad after Mom says, “No.” In forestry and the forecasting of timber markets, comparing approaches, like getting a second opinion, strengthens our collective understanding, more…
Mid-way through a ninth year of increasing housing starts and growing lumber consumption, timberland investors and forest owners in the U.S. South continue to struggle with flat and, in certain local markets, falling sawlog prices. Previous posts discuss how this more…
In the show “Shark Tank”, a key lesson from watching entrepreneurs get grilled by Kevin O’Leary and company is the importance of knowing your numbers. The questions are always the same, so showing up unprepared is, frankly, inexcusable. What are more…