Paper & Pulp Mills
U.S. containerboard operating rate surges to nearly 95% in Q2 AF&PA data show the containerboard operating rate climbed to nearly 95% from 93% in Q1 even as production fell 2% year-over-year; domestic demand rose 1%, exports dropped almost 19%, and mill inventories ended June at their lowest point in over 15 months. Source: PaperAge
U.S. boxboard production up 2% in Q2 Total U.S. boxboard production rose 2% year-over-year in the second quarter, led by 4% growth in solid bleached boxboard, though the overall operating rate slipped to 88.8%. Source: PaperAge
Forestry & Timber
Canfor CEO defends closures: "Standing still is not an option" Update: In new remarks following the results, Canfor chief Susan Yurkovich called the mill closures "among the most difficult moments in managing a forestry company" but necessary given the imbalance between production capacity and access to fibre. Source: Timber Industry News
French timber industry faces more than €500 million in wildfire damage Wildfires that burned over 45,000 hectares in the Gironde region of south-western France are expected to cause damage exceeding €500 million, setting up one of the country's largest timber salvage operations in recent years. Source: Timber Industry News
Long-established Austrian sawmill prepares for insolvency proceedings One of Austria's oldest family-owned sawmills is entering court-supervised restructuring after its bank called in loans; a €27 million investment in new production capacity hit commissioning delays amid weak lumber demand and high sawlog costs. Source: Timber Industry News
Japan housing starts jump 18.6% in June, wooden construction dominant Japan's housing starts reached 66,344 units in June, up 18.6% year-over-year, with wooden homes accounting for 59.4% of new starts. Source: Lesprom
Sonoco expands wood reels capacity 30% on data center and grid demand Sonoco has invested more than $25 million since 2024 to lift wood reel manufacturing and assembly capacity by 30% across Alabama and Texas facilities, responding to surging cable demand from AI data center growth and power grid modernization. Sources: PaperAge · Lesprom
Madison's Lumber Prices Index edges up 1% to $558 The benchmark index rose to US$558 per thousand board feet for the week ending July 31, a modest weekly gain and essentially flat against year-ago levels. Source: Lesprom
Wood Pellets
Indonesian wood pellet exports grow 8% in June Indonesia's wood pellet export volumes rose 8% in June, with average prices up 2% from the previous month. Source: Lesprom