Changes in the Residual Wood Fiber Market, 2004 to 2017
Market shifts in recent decades have created both hardships and new opportunities for timber producers and marketers for wood fiber residuals in the American South and the Pacific Northwest. A report commissioned by RFF, the US Endowment for Forestry & Communities, Inc., and the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) identifies those economic interests likely to prosper, and those likely to continue their severe declines, driven by market forces.
Key findings
- The structural decline for hardwood fibers continues, driven by a continued decrease in demand for printing and writing papers and other end products.
- There is a buoyant demand for softwood fiber driven by strong pulp markets and bioenergy in the form of pellets.
- Renewed softwood lumber demand and capacity in the South present challenges for landowners.
- Fiber constraints in the Pacific Northwest have hindered growth, resulting in stagnant but stable and profitable markets.
Authors
Thomas Bennett
