Counting Boards and Boosting Efficiency: Trio’s Yard Will Be Closed for One Day to Prepare for New Tech Updates!

Oct 8, 2024

Trio’s yard will be closed on Friday, October 11th, 2024 for a physical inventory. During this time, we will be implementing new inventory management software.

September 2024 Lumber Market Equilibrium: Reality or Myth

Oct 8, 2024

As fall begins, the lumber market faces challenges from extreme weather, like Hurricane Helene, and policy shifts in Washington. Tariffs and environmental regulations add to the uncertainty, impacting pricing and supply. Trio Forest Products Inc. is closely monitoring these changes and remains committed to maintaining strong inventory and competitive prices. We value your continued partnership

The Lumber Market Today from Trio Forest Products Inc.

Aug 26, 2024

Impact of Canadian Rail Strikes on the Lumber Industry

As Labor Day approaches, it’s timely to reflect on the Canadian rail strikes and their impact on our industry. These disruptions have highlighted the essential role of labor in maintaining our supply chains. Despite the strikes, the lumber market has remained unexpectedly stable, but the ongoing delays at key shipping ports and adjustments by companies like Mercer International are causing concerns. The longer these strikes continue, the greater the potential for supply shortages and price increases, especially for products like OSB, SPF Dimension, MSR, and KDDF.

Stay informed and consider these factors in your purchasing decisions. Reach out to us for the latest market conditions.

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Ready and Excited to Head Into 2025!

Now that we have clarity around the new administration, many are wondering: what’s next for the lumber market? As we all know, the lumber market is deeply tied to the housing industry. With housing affordability at the forefront of economic discussions, recent insights from NAR and builder articles shed light on how this issue may be addressed. The proposed solutions—lift regulations and build more homes—sound simple in theory, but like Grandma’s Thanksgiving stuffing, there are plenty of ingredients to consider. Factors like interest rates, resistance to downsizing among elderly homeowners (the silver tsunami is not coming), and potential tariffs driving up building supply costs all play a role in this complex recipe.

If home price growth continues at the current pace, “America will be completely divided,” said Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.

The solution? “More supply”

Key points:

Yun said the country could become like the Bay Area “where few are getting tremendous wealth” if we don’t boost supply.

Additionally, deputy chief economist Jessica Lautz warned that “the silver tsunami is not coming” and that “we have to just build more homes.”

Yun predicts that mortgage rates will stick around 6% in the near term and said buyers won’t see 3-4% rates again.

Re strictive zoning limits building, and he predicted that an upcoming Trump administration may take a position of less regulation to make it easier for builders to construct more housing.

Builders more optimistic about home sales post-election:

After bottoming out in August, builder confidence has risen steadily this fall. That trend is expected to continue now that the presidential election is over, giving the industry more certainty about what to expect in 2025 and beyond

Tariffs, labor shortages and other challenges

‘Regulatory relief’ expected.

The Labor Shortage Challenge

Another critical ingredient is the ongoing labor shortage, which continues to impact the construction industry. Immigration policy plays a significant role in the availability of skilled labor, and uncertainty or restrictive measures can exacerbate the problem. Builders are finding it increasingly challenging to staff projects, leading to delays and rising costs. Addressing this shortage will be key to meeting housing demand and .stabilizing the market.