Timberland Investments and the Strategic Role of Technology

| no comments in Forest Finance & Economics, Forest Technology, Risk Management, Timber Market Analysis, Timberlands, Wood Demand & Procurement

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…

How Do Exchange Rates Affect US Forest Products and Timberland Investments?

| no comments in Forest Finance & Economics, Timber Market Analysis, Timberlands

When studying exchange rates and currency markets, I sometimes think of the old joke “the quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and stick it back in your pocket.”   Currency markets shake more than more…

Forecasting Stumpage Prices and Timberland Investment Performance Requires Local Knowledge of Wood Demand

| no comments in Forest Finance & Economics, Forisk, Stumpage Forecasting, Timber Market Analysis, Wood Demand & Procurement

Last week, I met with the CEO of one of world’s largest forest management and consulting firms.  We ended up discussing a mutually perplexing question, “why do some timberland investors prioritize macro issues like housing at the expense of understanding more…