Paper & Pulp Mills
Longview, WA: recovery complete at Nippon Dynawave mill — death toll stands at 11 All nine remaining victims' bodies were recovered by May 31 following the May 26 implosion of a 900,000-gallon white liquor tank at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging mill in Longview, Washington — the state's deadliest industrial disaster since 1930. Eleven workers died in total, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board has opened an investigation, and production at the mill remains halted amid Columbia River contamination concerns. Sources: Wikipedia · NBC News · PBS News
Forestry & Timber
Lumber futures below $600/MBF as Canadian margins stay squeezed
Lumber futures sit at $589.50/MBF, below the $600 level held earlier in spring, with Canadian mills facing combined duties near 35% against production costs of $580–600/MBF. In hardwoods, Black Walnut veneer ($3,500/MBF) and White Oak ($1,200/MBF, on bourbon-barrel demand) remain firm, while Red Oak ($255/MBF) continues to slide under China's log-import suspension and Soft Maple ($475/MBF) strengthens on Vietnam export demand.
Source: JM Log Market — May 2026 Timber Market Update
Mill investment notes from May trade press Bingaman & Son Lumber (PA) installed a new bin sorter, AI grading system, and banding station, with two new dry kilns planned for summer 2026; Western Forest Products expected installation of a Jartek thermal-modification kiln in May to expand thermally modified wood offerings. Source: Miller Wood Trade Publications — Industry News, May 2026