While many major economies around the world have been suffering high unemployment since the Lehman Shock, Japan has faired relatively well with rates in the range of 4.4% to 5.5%. The current rate in Japan is still around 4.5%, but within the construction industry many people are talking about labour shortages.

The shortages are being caused by reconstruction efforts in the Tohoku area coupled with strong demand from consumers across most of the country. The number of housing starts per year in Tohoku were not that large so as result there were not as many construction workers available there. In fact, due to weak demand before 3/11, many carpenters actually left to work in the Kanto region. Now that there is so much reconstruction work, these people are being called back while workers from other areas are also being recruited with the lure of higher wages.

This is leading to a domino effect where construction companies as far away as Kyushu are having to pay higher wages or risk losing their workers to Tohoku. This year the Sea of Japan side of the country has seen record snowfalls and the labour shortages are even hampering snow removal efforts. In places such as Aomori local communities in the past could count on construction workers and their dump trucks to help with cleaning roads. This year both the workers and the heavy equipment are working overtime in tsunami devastated areas.

The biggest concern to many industry people is that real reconstruction efforts have not even begun yet. Removing debris is still the main task, but this is expected to transition to full scale reconstruction as the summer approaches. Additionally, the Japanese government has announced its intentions to raise the consumption tax to 10% from 5% within a few years which means that many people considering to build new homes will push up their plans to avoid paying the extra tax. Full scale reconstruction in conjunction with increased demand will inevitably lead to even more pressure on the construction labour market.

This situation is very reminiscent of the period after the Kobe earthquake. Just as reconstruction of the city was in full swing, homebuyers were preparing for the consumption tax to be raised from 3% to 5% in 1997. This is leading people in the industry to predict a return to Kobe era trends such as bringing in carpenters from North America as well as a boom in imported housing packages.

This week in Korea, BC Wood’s in-market representative, Mr. JC Lee, has been very active in wrapping up participation and exhibition at the 28th MBC Construction Expo at SETEC in Seoul. One of Korea’s premier building and construction conferences, the MBC show had over 350 exhibitors and approximately 150,000 attendees.

BC Wood worked closely with Canada Wood partners, Council of Forest Industries (COFI) and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), in displaying a unified booth representing Canadian wood product manufacturers. Five companies participated in the event in a joint effort to market Canadian products to the attendees of the event including Korean builders, architects, home-owners, distributors, and material importers. Exhibitors in the booth displayed products ranging from construction lumber to engineered wood timber products. For some companies, participating with BC Wood in the Canadian pavilion marked a first step into the highly competitive Korean market.

In addition to the highly visible space at the show, BC Wood and CMHC coordinated a wood products seminar for members of Korea’s building and construction industry. Member companies had the opportunity to present information about Canadian wood products and company capabilities to nearly 200 attendees at this event.

South Korea’s interest in wood products and construction reflects a strong wood history and affinity for the material. Korean consumers are growing more sophisticated and are looking into higher quality imported products that are environmentally compliant. With growing affluence and ongoing improvements in living standards, Korea is rapidly developing into a market with high potential for both wood frame construction and value-added wood products in the foreseeable future.

For more information about events in the Korean market, please contact David Pao at dpao@bcwood.com

A few comments, suggestions, and ideas that may be of interest to Industry…

I have always believed that there is a strong and growing market for unique and innovative wood products. The kind of stuff that makes use of end cuts or takes wood of little value and creates a higher value product. Some of the work that Judson Beaumont of Straightline Designs has done with beetle- kill wood making high value wall panels is a prime example of what I’m talking about (picture to the right). It’s unique, innovative, and most importantly in demand by the architectural and interior design sector who are always looking for new and interesting products.

Keeping this thought in mind, I attended the Surfaces 2012 trade event and conference in Las Vegas this past week. What I saw was inspiring as companies from across North and South America, and Asia Pacific showcased innovative products for the residential and commercial construction sectors. Innovative flooring and wall covering were on display throughout the convention center; this year there seemed to be a strong focus on wood products. What caught my eye was the vast array of wall paneling that was available. In discussions with manufacturers, these products are used primarily in the hospitality sector specifically for restaurants, hotel lobbies, and other commercial environments where design is a priority.

An example of this is the Colorado manufacturer, Everitt and Schilling, www.eandstile.com, who were showing a new line of reclaimed wall tile they call “trail mix”. They are taking end cuts and scraps of reclaimed lumber, laying them on a substrate in a variety of patterns with the end result being a 2×3 panel. Their product has been specified in a number of high-end commercial environments throughout North America, including the recent renovation of Gilleys Bar and Grill on the Las Vegas strip.

Offering a similar but more contemporary product line was Canadian manufacturer, Finium Co of Frampton Quebec, www.finium.ca. This firm is producing a wall tile they are calling “Friendly Wall” which utilizes end cuts of high-grade clear black walnut and maple from their flooring and molding operations. These prefinished end-cuts are placed on a lightweight backer strip and can easily be installed on any wall surface. Friendly Wall sells at approximately $12 – $15 a square foot and according to the manufacturer, they are having considerable success with this product in the US market.

Surfaces also provides a great venue to see new and innovative products from wood flooring manufacturers. I wasn’t expecting much “new” since I assumed that I had seen it all with engineered, hand scraped, reclaimed, and prefinished flooring which is readily available by manufacturers worldwide. For the most part that is what I saw, except for one company that in my opinion was the hit of the show. The company, Bole Floor Manufacturers, is a very cool wide-plank flooring company that has a factory in Amsterdam, Netherlands. What separates their product from the myriad of wide-plank solid and engineered product available is that their boards aren’t straight. According to the manufacturer, they are the first company in the world to produce hardwood flooring with naturally curved lengths that follow the trees natural growth. They use a priority optimization technology that scans each board and then individually numbers each piece. Like a puzzle, their technology allows the computer to fit the pieces together providing an individual and truly unique floor. It is a bit difficult to explain, so have a look at their work on their website: www.bolefloor.com

We here in BC are blessed with an abundance of world class fibre which for the most part is readily available. We have exceptionally talented manufacturers, combined with access to high quality fibre, which means we possess a competitive advantage that manufacturers from other parts of the world envy. Making the most of what we have through the design and manufacture of unique and innovative products will certainly help the value-added sector continue to grow and develop market share in the US.

For more information on this show or on the manufacturers reviewed please feel free to contact me at dfarley@bcwood.com

BC’s first eco-industrial park aims to be a centre of excellence for wood products manufacturers 

The future of industrial development in BC has arrived. Shawnigan Eco-Industrial Park, a fifteen-acre development nestled on the southern slope of the Malahat Highway, just 20 minutes north of Victoria, has received final zoning and subdivision approval, and is now going public.

Shawnigan Eco-Industrial Park principal, Pat Lintaman, said plans call for making the park a “center of excellence and efficiency” for companies in the value-added wood products industry. Lintaman envisions a collection of wood products companies locating at the park. Borrowing the idea of the “100-mile diet” he sees woodworking artisans (kitchens, flooring, mouldings, doors and windows, log & timber frame and factory-built homes, truss, glulam and remanufacturing plants, kiln drying, heat treating, and other associated services) – locating here and drawing on local wood supplies.

The park features LEED standard plans for energy efficiency, water conservation, environmental protection, and waste reduction; Lintaman envisions tremendous synergy between businesses (i.e. one company’s waste can be another company’s fuel – or a part of its finished product – and companies can share resources and take advantage of huge savings in energy costs). “Our goal from the outset,” he added, “is to create a model of a local sustainable industry without sacrificing profits.”

A former log and timber home designer/builder, Lintaman said wood is the ultimate renewable resource, hence wood products businesses naturally lend themselves to eco-sensitive development and “chain of custody” models. He noted that companies locating at SEIP will also be able to take advantage of huge savings in the cost of purchasing or leasing – compared to sky rocketing costs in nearby Victoria, where industrial land is shrinking and becoming extremely expensive.

While heavier plants would be located toward the rear of the park, Lintaman envisions a public area at the park entry – featuring custom furniture designers, flooring, cabinet makers, and wood door and window companies, for example – with workshops at rear, and retail showrooms in front.

“We can envision a kind of “Wood Workers Row – or Artisan’s Walk,” Lintaman said, “that could become an attraction in itself.” He said the park could become a community centre as well as a magnet for both area residents and tourists, “where they could purchase wood products that have been created on site – all the way from innovative design, through finished product – and all processing wood from local, sustainably managed forests, using sustainable operating practices, in LEED standard buildings.”

“Perhaps a “one stop” home design/contractor/coordination centre could be located here, with shops and offices for designers, trades people and construction suppliers and their showrooms,” Lintaman added. “The park would be a perfect location for a woodcraft education or interpretive centre. Perhaps a skills training centre for youth and/or First Nations could be built here. The possibilities are endless.”

Shawnigan Eco-Industrial Park is the first industrial park in BC to be awarded I-5 (Eco Industrial) zoning, and the development has won the approval of Shawnigan Watershed Watch, a group committed to protecting the watershed and Shawnigan Lake.

Lintaman invites inquiries from companies of any size that are considering a move in the next five years, as well as companies interested in investing, building or joint venturing with the park.

Please contact:

Pat Lintaman, Shawnigan Eco-Industrial Park
250.478.0795
Email:  pat@topnotchlog.com
Website:  www.shawniganecoindustrialpark.com

By Roy Manion

While we continued our ongoing efforts to work with architects, designers, and now contractors, yours truly also travelled to Saskatoon the week of Jan 16th to participate in the Prairie Showcase, an annual event that has been held in Saskatoon in mid-January for the past 11 years. The reason given for the timing is that the weather is so cold (it was -35C with the wind chill factor bring it down to -48C) that there isn’t much going on, allowing companies to send key personnel to the show.

The Prairie Showcase is for members only; companies must belong to the WRLA to participate either as an exhibitor or as a buyer, and is designed primarily as a buying show.  Exhibitors are encouraged to have credible “show specials”. This has been a very successful format which has resulted in the show growing over the years to become one the largest of its kind in Canada. This was BC Wood’s first year of attending with the purpose of creating an awareness of BC’s value-added wood industry and products to the attendees. In this regard, we did have a number of retailers stop at our booth to inquire about specific products and where they might be sourced.

This can be an excellent show for BC Wood and some of its members (who are able to sell to major retailers) and we have added it again to our line-up of activities for next year – so keep it in mind.

Over and above the Prairie Showcase, BC Wood continues to call on architects and major contractors which included meetings with Bird Construction and EllisDon. We also attended a millwork seminar for the technical committee of the Greater Vancouver House Builders Association.

The last couple of weeks also included our working with a timber frame company on Vancouver Island to finalize and send out invitations for a tour and seminar event. Early response from the architect community for the event has been excellent.

For further information on anything in this article or if you wish to participate in the Architect Program, please contact me at  rmanion@bcwood.com or you can reach me at the BC Wood office

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

Set aside the morning of February 1st and plan to be at the University of British Columbia Forest Sciences Centre. The Wood Manufacturing Council will use the morning session of the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing’s open house to present the industry-acclaimed Going Global workshop on International Trade Research and Marketing (free registration includes light breakfast and lunch).

Designed for wood professionals

Built by Canada’s Forum for International Trade Training and customized with stats, case studies and discussions for the wood manufacturing industry, this half-day workshop will equip you with the information and tools you need to uncover promising export markets and position your products so they seize the attention and money of local customers.

Presented by a trade pro

The presenter is Doug Taylor, a seasoned and engaging trade expert who knows from experience exactly what wood executives, entrepreneurs and managers need to know to build their businesses abroad.

Register now

Spaces are limited. Sign-up now. Email the project manager stephen@wmc-cfb.ca to reserve your seat, ask questions or receive additional information. Do not miss this event! Go to http://www.cawp.ubc.ca/NewsEvents/CAWP2012OpenHouse.aspx to learn more about the open house.

Date: February 1, 2012 at 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Location: University of British Columbia, Forest Sciences Centre

2424 Main Mall (at Agronomy), Vancouver
Parking is available for $6

Registration fee: None

This January’s cold snap has been blessing ski hills around the country with an abundance of snow after a slow start to the season. However, the Fukushima nuclear crisis still looms heavily over the prospects of resorts attracting foreign tourists. In fact, for 2011 the number of tourists coming to Japan fell 27.8%. Niseko has benefitted the most from inbound tourism over the past few years so it was safe to assume that it was also being hit the hardest by this steep decline in travellers. Therefore, I recently visited the area to find out what was happening and what the prospects were for a rebound.

The first thing that struck me driving around the area was the number of construction sites that seemed to be stopped. In meeting with local people I soon learned that developers quickly put the brakes on many projects after 3/11. However, unlike past boom and bust cycles the owners of these projects are now well financed professional developers. Therefore, they have both the capability to weather the tough short-term conditions and they also have the foresight to see that over the longer term the nuclear fears will dissipate and foreign tourists will return in large numbers. Everything that has made Niseko the most talked about ski resort in Asia is still there.

One positive outcome from the current downturn is that a central “village” may finally be built in the Hirafu area. Over the years many people involved with developments in the area told me that the shoddy shape of the main access to the Hirafu lifts and the lack of a Whistler type village area was holding Niseko back from reaching the next level as an international destination. Many of the old buildings lining the main road were owned by people waiting for the area to grow further but without the means to properly develop the properties themselves. It seems that several of them were persuaded by the bleak prospects last year to finally sell. Once that part of Niseko is redeveloped, the whole area will benefit greatly from it.

Another thing that seems to be changing is the attitude towards domestic travellers. One of the amazing aspects of the Niseko success story was how it could prosper while only catering to foreigners and completely ignoring the massive Tokyo market. Hokkaido was always seen as a clean and pristine area, but that image has been further reinforced by the fact that it was one of the few areas in Japan that was spared any fallout after the Fukushima explosions. By actively pursuing the Tokyo market, Niseko operators can not only fill more rooms now, they can also build a more diversified client based so that the area is less susceptible to future shocks from overseas.

While 2011 was a terrible year for Niseko developers and lodging operators, there is some optimism returning. Apparently the number of inquiries from Australia and ex-pats in Asia has been increasing recently. Hopefully the Japanese government’s declaration in December that the Fukushima plants have achieved cold shutdown will encourage the Chinese tourists to also comeback. At the very least, the Japanese government is looking positively at 2012 by aiming to attract over 9 million inbound tourists topping the previous record of 8.6 million. Let’s hope they are right!

Later this year, BC Wood is planning to return to Moscow, Russia with a group of members to participate in the Holzhaus tradeshow, April 9-13th, 2012. These plans still must be approved by BC Wood’s government funders. However, given the early start to the new fiscal year, BC Wood must start now on the initial planning needed to make this event successful.
In November of 2011, BC Wood led a small, very successful trade delegation to Moscow to explore opportunities for value-added wood products in the Russian market and to participate in the Fall Holzhaus trade show.

Over the four days, approximately 11,000 attendees visited this Wooden House exhibition. BC Wood members were able to engage with industry professionals from all over Russia and surrounding countries. Developers, architects, builders, distributors, importers, and designers were all in attendance at the show, many of whom came specifically to the show to speak to the Canadian manufacturers.

BC Wood’s members showcased log home and timber frame structures, factory built homes, high quality millwork, and specialty Western Red Cedar building materials. Wood is an available and accepted building and finishing material in Russia and for BC manufacturers, the opportunity lies with specialty products. After only a short visit to this market, it also became very obvious that the concept of local partnerships was very important as there are many barriers to overcome in order to conduct business with confidence in this country.

Based on approved funding, space will be available for BC Wood members wanting to participate in the Holzhaus trade show. I would encourage any companies interested in more information to contact me at bhawrysh@bcwood.com or in BC Wood’s offices at 604-882-7100 as soon as possible.

Naturally Wood presents structural design and transportation featuring the Brentwood Town Centre Station, Lansdowne Station and the Kingsway Pedestrian Bridge. Perkins+Will (architects) and Fast & Epp (engineers) take us through their journey of concept and design for these public spaces, to final construction.

The use of wood in public spaces is a growing trend in British Columbia and across Canada.

Visit www.naturallywood.com for more info.

Wood in Transportation – Sky Train Stations and a Bridge

If you can see the above video link, please follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWtxWS47s8g&context=C30e401bADOEgsToPDskINBPQWud2aIXQ3VcxT_5Zk

Wood is a part of our history and culture. With growing pressure to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment, building designers are increasingly being called upon to balance functionality and cost objectives with reduced environmental impact.

Tell us why wood is your material of choice and how it impacts the projects you create. You could win an iPad 2!

For contest details, visit: http://www.rethinkwood.com/words-on-wood-contest

Enter before the contest closes on February 29, 2012.

Sanding Principles and Finishing Advances Seminar: Practical tips to help your business! – Surrey BC, February 1, 2012

Over the last few years, wood finishing and sanding technologies and practices have evolved considerably. Customers are demanding newer and higher quality finishes, and manufacturers need to find better ways to respond to these changes.

Join us in Surrey on Wednesday, February 1st for this information filled half-day workshop. Participants in this event will learn practical ways to improve their productivity, increase quality, reduce rework and ultimately lower their finishing and sanding costs.

The workshop is hosted by Norman Smith and Brian Ehrecke from FPInnovations. Both individuals have many years of hands-on experience in the industry and are happy to have the opportunity to share their knowledge with others.

As an added feature of this event, both Norman and Brian will be available after the workshop to talk to you about your specific finishing and sanding challenges. Use this opportunity to bring samples of your product and your questions.

For more information, click here

Register for the event by clicking here.

If you are new to the trade show scene you may be experiencing some sticker shock, but the good news is that you don’t really need to break the bank in order to grow your business through successful trade show presentations. Here are seven tips to help you get the most from a limited marketing budget.

1.  Why buy when you can rent?  For many companies, and for many different reasons, exhibit rental is an attractive choice. Click here to learn more about the benefits of trade show exhibi rental.

2.  Use Light Weight Exhibit Materials.  Freight & drayage charge by the pound and you can save a significant percentage in shipping if your booth setup is made from light weight materials.

3.  Free Gifts?  These items can be a budget buster.  Does every attendee really need to receive something? (Think adult ‘trick-or-treaters’)  Whatever it is, make certain the gift relates to your business in some way so the customers will think of your business whenever they use the item.  Better yet, create an ‘exchange’ where attendees provide information by answering qualifying questions in order to receive the handout.  Or, offer this item as a follow-up, sent by FedEx to only the most qualified attendees.

Click here to read the entire article

It’s not quite time to do a victory dance for the housing market, but the December 20th report from the U.S. Census Bureau on October housing starts extends the recent string of good news on the residential construction front:

• Total housing starts rose 9.3%, from October’s revised 627,000 to 685,000 in November (seasonally adjusted annual rate)
• Single-family starts continued their general trend upward, rising 2.3% to 447,000
• Multifamily starts remained a bright spot, jumping 25.3% to 238,000

Since multifamily starts tend to be volatile from month to month, it is worth looking at their three-month moving average, which has risen in nine of the last eleven months. The November average was 215,000, up 13.8% from October’s 189,000, and was the first time the average has been above 200,000 since November 2008.
Click here to read the entire article

When he began building B.C.’s first net-zero-energy-use home, Whistler resident Richard Wyne wondered whether the end product might turn out to look like a geodesic dome. What the ski patroller got was anything but.

Perched high on a hill on a south-facing lot in a neighbourhood named Rainbow, with expansive views of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, his home has all the luxuries you’d expect from a new development in the popular resort, as well as the type of eco-friendly design that screams green.

“I love that the home is comfortable and normal, while at the same time socially responsible,” says Mr. Wyne, who also works as a ski patroller. “I believe we’ve demonstrated an ability to fulfill our moral environmental obligation without sacrificing our standard of living.”

You won’t find Mr. Wyne and his wife Jennifer riding a stationary bike to power their toaster or computer. You will, however, find practically every energy-efficient device and detail available in the pair’s 2,200-square-foot, three-level house, built by Whistler’s RDC Fine Homes to Built Green-platinum standard.

The most visually striking element is the home’s solar photovoltaic system. Six hundred square feet of steep solar panels convert sunlight into electricity to ensure the home creates as much energy as it consumes.

Click here to read the entire article

As set out in a joint news release from the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. home starts in November rose 9.3% month to month and a smile-inducing 24.3% year over year.

With one exception – April 2010 at 687,000 units, which turned out to be an anomaly – one has to go all the way back to October 2008 (777,000 units) to find a monthly number that was higher.

In the fall of 2008, the data series was on a downward trajectory.

U.S. housing starts most recently peaked a long time ago, in January 2006 at 2.3 million units, seasonally adjusted and annualized.

What are the markers pointing to improvement in the homebuilding sector? The number of people finding work in the U.S. is increasing, initial jobless claims are declining, interest rates remain remarkably attractive and home prices offer bargains.

The multiples market, which is only 35% of the total, is continuing to outperform single-family home demand. Multi-unit starts in November were +25.3% versus October and +145% when compared with November of 2010.

Single-family starts were more stable, +2.3% month to month and -1.5% year over year.

Regionally, the West (+10.3%) has recorded the largest year-to-date percentage gain, followed by the South (+2.5). Neither the Midwest (-4.4%) nor the Northeast (-5.0%) has quite caught up with the starts performance in the same January to November period of last year.

Click here to read the entire article

I’m not sure what T. S. Eliot would have thought about the matter, but 2011 is closing out with neither a bang nor a whimper. Based on the difficulty of prognosticating over the past couple of years, the author of “The Waste Land” would probably have been glad he was a poet and not an economist. It’s interesting to note, though, that the title of his most famous work certainly could have been applied to much of the world’s financial sector in the most recent recession. It also threatens to have meaning for Europe, if it can’t get its debt problems in order in 2012.

In Canada, most of the recent data series are yielding results that are in the mid-range of historical patterns. The results are neither bullishly high nor bearishly low. For example, retail sales have been steadily increasing, but they haven’t been impulsively buoyant. In the latest month, October, the value of merchandise sold by shopkeepers was 4.4% higher than at the same time last year. A year-over-year sales gain of +5% is the “norm”. In the U.S., through all of 2011 so far, retail sales have been +7% or higher. That’s in a country where a great deal more fuss has been made about the need to scale back “reckless” spending than in this country. It just goes to show how difficult it is to rein in people’s wants and desires.

The inflation rate in Canada (+2.9%) is a little faster than we might like, but it’s still within manageable bounds. The lesson seems to be that central bankers only get truly alarmed about price hikes when they rise above 4.0%. The “core” inflation rate, which omits highly volatile food and energy components, is almost exactly on target at +2.1%.

Housing starts in the latest month (181,100 units annualized) dropped back to where they are more sustainable, in the opinion of most analysts. They rose above 200,000 units several times in the summer and early fall.

Click here to read the entire article

Conifex Timber Inc. (“Conifex” or the “Company”) today announced that it has, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, completed its previously announced acquisition of the commodity lumber distribution business previously owned and operated by Welco Lumber Corp. and the transportation and logistics business previously owned and operated by Navcor Transportation Services Inc. The Company paid an aggregate purchase price of $1,576,476 plus the book value of certain specified inventory on the date of closing, and has agreed to pay certain commissions for a period of three-years thereafter.

Conifex also announced that Brad Johansen has resigned as a director of the Company effective December 31, 2011 in order to pursue other interests.

Ken Shields, Chief Executive Officer of Conifex, commented: “The guidance and advice Brad Johansen provided the Conifex Board of Directors in its formative period was most insightful and greatly appreciated by all of us at the Company. We thank Mr. Johansen for his commitment and contribution to the Company during his tenure and respect his decision to resign so he can focus on other areas of interest.”

About Conifex Timber Inc.

Conifex and its subsidiaries’ primary business currently includes timber harvesting, reforestation, forest management, sawmilling logs into lumber and wood chips, value added lumber finishing, marketing and distribution. Conifex’s lumber products are sold in the United States, Chinese, Canadian and Japanese markets. Upon completion of its bioenergy facility at Mackenzie, British Columbia, Conifex’s business sectors will be expanded to include bioenergy.

Click here to read the entire article

Expanded relationships, business deals, agreements between universities, and new office openings were highlighted by Premier Christy Clark as successes achieved during the BC Jobs and Trade Mission to India and China.

“We set out on our jobs and trade mission to open doors, strengthen existing relationships, and set the stage for future success in China and India,” said Premier Clark. “After being in Asia for nearly two weeks with hundreds of representatives from business, education, and cultural organizations, I can unequivocally state it was mission accomplished.”

During the BC Jobs and Trade Mission more than 60 business deals and partnership agreements were signed or announced, while Premier Clark Premier attended approximately 70 events and meetings with business and political leaders.

One of these announcements was an agreement signed by Wavefront, the Vancouver-based national wireless centre of excellence, with the Cellular Operators Association of India to ease and speed up the flow of wireless business between Canada.

“The Premier’s mission has increased the awareness of B.C.’s thriving wireless sector. Our announced agreement with COAI opens a great deal of opportunity for the accelerated growth of Canadian wireless companies,” commented James Maynard, Wavefront president and CEO. “India is the second-largest wireless market in the world. Our agreement will enable us to help Canadian companies effectively access and navigate this complex and growing market.”

Approximately 350 delegates, representing some 150 companies, organizations, and community groups, participated on the BC Jobs and Trade Mission, making it the largest international delegation in the province’s history.

“In Asia, developing relationships are keys to success – and this was re-iterated while I was in China and India,” added Premier Clark. “Business does not happen between strangers, and in Asia it’s vital to demonstrate that companies and government are working together. This is why our government is proud to work with organizations such as Wavefront – to build these long-term and stable relationships that will lead to jobs here at home in B.C.”

Click here to read the entire article

New Dynamics & Revealing Outcomes will be Modeled and Profiled in a new BC Mountain Pine Beetle Update Report to be released in early 2012

In the spring of 2010, International WOOD MARKETS Group released the first in-depth analysis and outlook on the impact of the mountain pine beetle (MPB) on the BC Interior forest industry. Based on the collaborative work of the project team and the detailed input and assessments of the three leading forest industry consulting companies in BC, the BC Interior – Mountain Pine Beetle Attack: Outlook to 2028 Report predicted that the BC Interior timber and wood products industry would be nearing its peak output by about 2015 as the full impact of the mountain pine beetle-killed timber took hold and despite the forecasted rebound in global lumber markets.

Key to the report was a conclusion that, as the MPB ran its course, a chain of events would slowly unfold: as markets improved from the doldrums of 2009, lumber and veneer production would increase in the BC interior; the BC annual allowable timber harvest (AAC) would eventually fall as government uplifts to the AAC to facilitate the salvage and recovery of dead pine were reassessed; sawlog and veneer log availability would be reduced due to dead pine shelf life; mills were forecast to close as a log shortage develops; BC lumber and plywood production would drop; pulp production would be threatened by declining wood chip availability; and log and lumber prices would rise as an expected shortage of U.S. lumber developed with the projection of rapidly rising U.S. demand.

While some recent reports simplistically suggest that the original WOOD MARKETS forecast could be too pessimistic, or that the BC forest industry would simply be saved due to improving U.S. and global demand for forest products with higher potential prices, recent events and new information regarding the impact of the mountain pine beetle suggests otherwise, supporting the earlier premise of the 2010 WOOD MARKETS forecast.

Click here to read the entire article

Lumber prices have taken an unseasonal price spike as U.S. wholesalers and retailers start buying well ahead of the expected construction season next year.

Spurred by low inventories, strong apartment construction and a surprise jump in building permits in the United States, the price of spruce, pine and fir construction lumber closed the week at $240 US a thousand board feet, a $22 jump from the week before when it was at $218 US.

The jump is being viewed by B.C. lumber companies as one of the first pieces of positive news out of the U.S. in five years of dismal lumber pricing, said Keta Kosman, publisher of the lumber research journal Madison’s Lumber Reporter.

Apartment construction is on the rise in the U.S., she said, fuelled by the need of so many people who have lost their homes to find an apartment to rent.

Further, October building permits, an indicator of future construction, came in at a seasonally-adjusted rate of 653,000 units, a 10.9 per cent increase over the month before. Analysts expected starts to come in at 608,000