Hope For Easing Of Redwood Shortage

Asked recently about redwood, wholesalers and retailers responded: "Redwood? What redwood?"

"Where is it?"

And, "I can't get any."

Producers, though, promise that the redwood shortage is temporary. "We started hearing (such complaints) early this summer," says Pam Allsebrook, California Redwood Association. "There's been such a building boom, and there's only so much redwood we

can manufacture."

"We've had three years of very big housing starts," agrees Will Riegel, v.p.-sales & mktg. for Pacific Lumber Co., the largest supplier of redwood. "Supplies grow tight whenever there's a sustained era ofprosperity."

Riegel adds that his company's redwood production has been limited this year by other constraints, including drawn-out negotiations over the sale of the Headwaters Forest, meeting requirements of a complex new Harvest Conservation Plan-Sustained Yield Plan, and delays caused by unusually cold weather.

He expects supply to begin loosening up this month and to improve steadily throughout the rest of the year.

Even then, don't expect a miracle turnaround, cautions Allsebrook. "Be patient."

COUNT ON US FOR ALL THE MDF MOULDING YOU COULD EVER WANT IN A RAPIDLY EXPANDING LINE OF PROFILES.

You asked. We tistened. And now we have more SierraPine MDF mouldings to offer you than ever before. Not only have we added to our line of profites, we've increased our capacity to Produce. That means just-in-time shipments witl be coming your waya solid setection of mouldings and architectural profiles in widths up to 71lz inches.

In fact, let us send you our new SierraPine MDF profile book so -ffi.you can see the futt tine. Be lG sure to notice that we now offer custom UPC labels and casings mitered to soecification.

Western Lumber Production Increases

The expanding home construction and remodeling market helped increase Western lumber production in the first half of the year, according to the Western Wood Products Association, Portland, Or.

The agency reported that over the first six months Western lumber production grew by 8.3Vo to 8.87 billion bd. ft. In addition, product orders increased 8.3Vo, while shipments were 7,9Vo higher than a year ago.

With housing starts up 6.6Vo and existing home sales on an all-time record pace, the increased demand for lumber caused prices to rise. The average price for Douglas fir is up 35Vo from last autumn. Hem-fir prices have isen 32Vo and the cost of ponderosa pine is up llVo.

Imports, which account for over one-third of the U.S. lumber supply, have not kept pace with demand increases. Through May, Canadian shipments to the U.S., which comprise over 96Vo of import volumes, are up just 1.97o.

To meet the demand, Western sawmills are running above normal operating capacities by increasing operating hours or adding shifts. During May and June, mills on the Oregon and Washington coasts operated at more than IOOVo of capacity, with production up more than l3%o in the first six months of the year.

Mills in eastern Oregon and Washington and the rest of the West increased production by 5.6Vo during that time, operating at 94Vo capacity.

Merchant classified ads get results

For detalls, see page 42

Praudl11 grown and manufactured by the Colvillelndian Tribe

Caltr Bob Bretz or Billy Gunn

Universal Consolidating

Universal Forest Products is consolidating its Huntington Beach and Corona, Ca., facilities at a new 45-acre location in Riverside, Ca. Target date for move-in is October, but this could be delayed by circumstances for two months.

Thc new facility will have three acres under roof tbr remanufacturing and Iumber, plywood and ptincl storage as well as a loading dock and 27 car rail spur. Universal says it will be the largest and most efficicnt rcrnan operation in the West heving u sllcirnrlined rnatcrials flow and an extensive array of automated rnachinery. A number of value-addcd items fbr thc d-i-y market will be produced as well as engineered wood products and trusses.

Aware of the employee disruption involved, the company haS held meetings complctc with realtors iit the ncw plant for its workers to assist those who wish to move. Mortgage payments in Rivcrside County are oftcn cheaper than rcnts in upmarkct Orangc County, where the Huntington Beach operation is prcsently locatcd.

Universal's western division has nine facilities in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevnda. A projee'ted rcquisiliun is expectcd to increasc this numbcr in the near futurc.

Management involved in the new facility will be Pat Wchster. exccutive vice prcsident of operations for the Far West division; Joe McGuire, general manager oi opcrations; Vaughn Hoskins, sales manager; John Hodge operations manager, and Marwan Salem, plant managcr. There are presently l2 sales people. UFP hopcs to have 18 by opening day.

The cornpany paid CcrtainTecd Corp. $2.9 nrillion for tlre complcx. located in the town of Rubidoux.

Universal Forest Products has nearly 90 facilities nationwicie serving retail home centers, nranul-actured housing, industrial packaging nrarkels and thc commercial and rcsidcntial site built industly.

PLT Closing At Harbor

Pacillc Lumber Terminal, a fixture in the Los Angeles, Ca., harbor for decades, has been pcrrnanently closed due to the impending loss of its rail service this rnontli.

The Wilrlington, Ca., facility, on land controllcd by the Port of i-os

Angcle s. was al'lccteil by thc construction ol the rnulti-billion dollar Alamcda Transportation Corridor. an infrastructure pro.jcct involving rail and surlace transportation realignrncnt betr.vecn thc harbor ancl rail yarcls in Los Angclcs.

Whilc reconnection of the harbor ruil links in onc lu tu{) )clrs is ex1,1i1ed, the owners of Pacific Lunrhcr Tern.rinal, unable to continue as a lirll scrvice watcr and rail liandlin-e lacility. opted to close their prof itablc opcr'ation. PIJ has becn co-urvncd by Joncs Wholcsale Lunrbcr', [.ynlvoorl. Ca.. and Burns Lumber Co.. Medforcl.

Or., since 1998 For clccudcs prcviously' it rvas ou'ncd by Coos Hcacl Lurnbcr' & I'l1,wood Clo., Coos Bay, Or.

Any rcsumplion of' l)LT * ill dcpcnd upon achieving l luvolablc lancl lease ll-orr thc port. LJniler prcscnt polic1,. autonrobilcs pay a highcr r",hurlage f'ec than lumbcr-, so tltc port favors cars as a higher [evcnuc sourcc lbr its opcrations. Land cunn()t be purchasccl at thc hulbor, only lcasecl nronth to rnontli.

'l'lte closure ol' Pt-T leavcs lrlcrront Forcst Proclucts in l-ong Bclch as the only custom cargo hundling tcrnrinal in thc Grcatcr Los Angclcs arcu.

"We buy Cedar fencing materia.ls in different grades, in widths ranglng from3 7/2" to 12", and lengths from 4' to 8'. Adams is the only solrrce for some of that natenal. They're prompt, ship on our schedule, are consistent in grade, ald allow us to mix truckloads of different sizes and grades. They take care of us, no matter what."

Mike Nasser. Iewett Comeron