Hampton sets pace for third year : sawmill in Willamina fights off challengers for highest producer

Abstract

Over the last 50 years many changes have roiled lumber markets. On the positive side, treated lumber has created major opportunities for lumber use in outdoor applications. But some negative developments underscore the mature status of lumber as a commodity. Sheathing had been lost long ago to panels. Likewise, roof rafters and joists have been supplanted by less wood-intensive trusses. More recently, lumber use in floor joists has been shrinking due to replacement by wood I-Joists, while in the girder, beam and header segment, LVL has been taking large shares. Similarly, in outdoor decking, there is increasing competition from woodfiber-plastic composites. And that's not even to mention the increasing inroads made by imports. Yet, despite these challenges, the U.S. lumber industry grew (capacity-wise) by a respectable average of 2% pes year over the past decade. This was 50% faster than population growth and about two-thirds the growth rate of GDP.

Citation

Spelter, Henry. 2005. Hampton sets pace for third year : sawmill in Willamina fights off challengers for highest producer. Timber processing. (July/Aug. 2005): Page 79