|
|
|
|
 INDUSTRY NEWS
|
|
White Oak Restores USS Constitution
Only the best will do for the USS Constitution: 35 beautiful Indiana white oak logs will be used to restore the hull of the famous ship, named by founding father George Washington. The U.S. Navy contracted Tri State Timber to harvest the long-awaited white oaks needed for "Old Ironsides," noted Jeff Page, a professional forester for the company. Timber is one of the top five industries in Indiana.
Source: HPVA®. See video, diagrams, photos and more at WDRB, August 9; USSCM, May 11, 2015. Photo: © Hunter Stires.
|
|
|
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
|
|
|
China Reports Contaminated Logs
China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine reported that numerous pests have been found in logs imported from the U.S. All exporters must provide an APHIS phytosanitary certificate and certification of fumigation for wood and wood products. However, pests in exported logs and wood products are a two-way street. The Asian longhorned beetle - a threat to America’s hardwood forests for decades - was introduced from China by way of untreated wood packing materials: crates and pallets.
Source: Fordaq, July 28, 2015; USDA Gain Report, December 31, 2012; NHLA, November 1998. Photo: © Kyle T. Ramirez.
|
|
Chinese Demand Spurs Deforestation
The release of 155 Chinese illegal loggers by Myanmar was a gesture of good will towards China, Myanmar’s largest trading partner. However, this probably will not discourage Chinese loggers from plundering Myanmar's forests, mostly illegally, as they have for more than a decade. In 2013, half of the world's illegal timber was cut in Indonesia; much ended up in China. Cambodia, with the world’s third highest deforestation rate, ships 85% of its timber to China. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, 90% of logging is illegal and 65% of timber is exported to China.
Source: Timberbiz, August 13, 2015.
|
|
|
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
|
|
|
Firefighting Costs Raise Alarms
For the first time in its 110-year history, the U.S. Forest Service is spending more than 50% of its budget to suppress wildfires. Mission-critical programs that can help prevent forest fires - such as forest restoration and watershed and landscape management - will suffer as a result. Alaska has been hit the hardest, with a shocking five million acres burned so far this year.
Source: See video, photos at NASA, August 19 and CNN, August 18; The Washington Post, August 10; USDA, August 5, 2015.
|
|
|
INDUSTRY NEWS
|
|
Lumber Liquidators Struggles
Lumber Liquidators' second-quarter sales declined 5.8% and the stock price is down 72% since March, when 60 Minutes reported that the company sold Chinese-made flooring with high levels of formaldehyde. The question is how much further sales and stock prices will fall after 60 Minutes revisited its investigation of Lumber Liquidators and broadcast the update on Sunday.
Source: Woodworking Network, TV Guide, August 16; Construction Dive, August 6, 2015.
|
|
|
|
HPVA® MEMBER NEWS
|
|
|
HPVA® Breaks Ground On HQ
Loudoun County's Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York and District Supervisor Suzanne Volpe joined Rocky Boucher, HPVA® Board Chairman; Tim Heidt, New Headquarters Chairman; and Kip Howlett, HPVA® President at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new HPVA® headquarters building in Sterling, VA, near Dulles International Airport. HPVA®, HPVA Laboratories®, AHEC, and the Hardwood Forestry Fund expect to move into their new home next summer.
Mohawk Announces Q2 Earnings
Mohawk Industries announced second quarter earnings per share of $2.69, excluding unusual charges, up 22% vs. last year. The company recently realigned its carpet, wood, laminate, and vinyl operations.
|
|
|
NEWS BRIEFS
|
|
|
America’s Housing Ages
The median age of U.S. homes is 37 years.
Source: Builder, August 12, 2015.
Home Remodeling Rebounds
Since the housing crisis, remodeling is up 3.4% on a $300 billion base.
Source: GlobeNewswire, August 10, 2015.
Construction Contribution Dwindles
Private construction dropped 40% from 1997 to 2014. Construction job vacancies remain high.
Source: Construction Dive, August 13; Construction Dive, August 12, 2015.
|
|
VIDEO: Logging Of Long-Gone Days
Fantasic old photos of logging and sawmilling.
Source: Go Wood, August 11, 2015.
FSC Certification = Profit
On average, green investments by timber producers break even in six years.
Source: WWF, August 4, 2015.
Golf Course Communities Dying Out?
NAHB poll lists golf courses as #2 least wanted feature. 130 - 160 golf courses close each year.
Source: Construction Dive, August 14, 2015.
Prices Of Building Materials Fall
However, construction spending is rising. Also, single-family construction grew 13%, pushing housing starts to a new high.
Source: Construction Dive, August 18; Construction Dive, August 17, 2015.
|
|
|
Send Us Your Ideas For Articles, Company News, And More
We are always looking for great stories, news about your company, and interesting multimedia. Or, send us feedback on this week's content or topics you would like to see in upcoming HPVA® eNews. Email us at innovate@hpva.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
