This article was featured in our newsletter and does not have an abstract. Click on the PDF below to get the full newsletter.

Authors: ​Kyle Cunningham and Ivan Eastin ​Executive SummaryJapanese housing starts reached a high of 1.64 million in 1996 as homeowners rushed to beat the consumption tax increase scheduled for 1997.  The Asian economic downturn and various other factors caused housing starts to fall to 1.2 million in 1998.  The decline in housing starts, in conjunction with […]

Authors: ​Bruce Lippke, Rose Braden, Scott Marshall Executive SummaryThe Pacific Northwest (PNW) forest sector is strategically linked to Pacific Rim markets, as it has been at a competitive disadvantage with the US South and interior Canada in delivering wood products to the population dense eastern and southern US markets.  Deep-water port access to Asia however, has […]

Authors: ​Ivan L. Eastin and Anne Rahikainen ​Executive SummaryIntroductionThe Japanese market for prefabricated homes and wooden building materials has tremendous potential for US firms, particularly those located in the Pacific Northwest.  For example, exports of prefabricated housing to Japan increased by 51% from 1994 to 1995, with 81% of these exports originating from the Pacific Northwest.  […]

Authors: ​Charles A. Backman, Thomas R. Waggener ​Executive SummaryWhile the Russian Republic represents one of the largest single holdings of forests and forest inventory, the potential of this resource is far from fully realized. In part, this is due to the huge size of the Republic, and the overall pressures that have taken priority over the […]

Authors: ​Anne Ilinitch, Ivan Eastin, Mike Peng, Dorothy Paun ​Executive SummaryExisting models of internationalization have failed to address adequately the important question of why some firms succeed in exporting while others fail. Using interviews with twenty-five export managers and fourteen industry experts associated with the forest products industry, this research develops a resource-based model that examines […]

Author: ​Hakan Ekstrom ​Highlights: U.S. lumber suppliers who wish to be more competitive in European markets must understand the European definition of quality.  Quality is much more than accurate grading.  Other factors like dimension accuracy, consistent supply, and customer service are also very important.  Customers in European countries do hot have the same preferences as U.S. […]

Authors: James A. Stevens and Darius M. Adams Executive SummaryThe purpose of this study was to examine the prospects and opportunities for expansion of market pulp exports from Alaska. The focus was on opportunities for the addition or new capacity and expansion of exports in grades not now produced.  We provide a brief overview of the […]

Author: ​John M. Perez-Garcia ​SummaryThe Pacific Northwest has traditionally been a strong participant in international forest products markets in the Pacific Rim.  The combination of a substantial resource base, processing capabilities to manufacture high quality timber products and export facilities have contributed to a comparative advantage in the export of wood and wood products.  The region […]

Authors: ​Donald F. Flora and Wendy J. McGinnis ​AbstractCongress is considering two legislative changes affecting softwood log exports from the West.  One would drop the ban on exports from Federal lands.  The other would permit States to embargo exports of logs from State-owned lands.Lifting the ban on federal log exports would increase exports about ten percent, […]