With the first ten months reporting, Southern Pine shipments for 2006 are estimated to be 18.2 billion board feet (Bbf), or 4% below the 2005 peak. The forecast for 2007 Southern Pine shipments is 17.4 Bbf; 17.9 Bbf is forecast for 2008. These volumes are based on housing starts bottoming at 1.581 million units in 2007, with a slight improvement in 2008 to 1.810 million units. January 2007 will be the seasonal and cyclical bottom. Expenditures on repair and remodeling will decrease 4% during 2007. The housing slowdown will drag GDP to less than 3% year-over-year growth. Overall softwood consumption will drop 10% through this cycle. Canadian imports for the first ten months of 2006 are rated at 19.7 billion board feet (down 8% from 2005), while shipments from the U.S. West will drop 7% to 18 billion board feet for calendar year 2006. A complete summary of softwood consumption is available online within the Members Only portal of www.sfpa.org under the Supply & Demand Analysis tab. For questions or additional information, contact Wade Camp, SFPA’s director of economic services, at wcamp@sfpa.org or 504/443-4464 ext. 217.

Mark your calendar: SFPA’s 2007 Annual Meeting will be held Friday, September 28 through Tuesday, October 2 in Charleston, South Carolina. The location is the Francis Marion Hotel, in the heart of historic district, the largest and grandest hotel in the Carolinas when it opened in 1924. Named for General Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox" of the American Revolution, the Francis Marion Hotel reopened in 1996 after an award-winning $12 million restoration, and is once again a choice location for SFPA’s annual gathering. As the event draws near, watch this newsletter as well as www.sfpa.org for agenda details and planned activities for spouses and guests.

Help Desk Answers on Demand

During 2006, the Wood Products Help Desk processed 1466 technical inquiries about Southern Pine products and applications. Product support specialists Merritt Kline and Ray Clark reported that, throughout the year, the most interest was in roof and floor systems (30% of all inquiries), followed by outdoor decks and landscaping (21%), and permanent wood foundations (10%). Treated framing, interior flooring/patterns, raised floor systems/porches, also generated a significant amount of interest during the year. DIYers and homeowners made the most inquiries, accounting for 33% of the yearly total. Other notable caller categories included lumber dealers, builders, engineers, manufacturers, subcontractors, and distributors.

The Help Desk is a cooperative activity supported by the Southern Pine Council, APA - The Engineered Wood Association, and the Structural Insulated Panel Association. Remember to let your customers know about this helpful service, available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time. To reach the desk, dial 253/620-7400, e-mail help@southernpine.com, or call 504/443-4464 (ext. 2).

Over the 50 years as a member of SFPA, many G-P employees have provided their expertise to the advancement of the Southern Pine industry. Alex Hopkins was SFPA’s Chairman in 2000. SFPA President Digges Morgan recently delivered a distinctive glass award commemorating G-P’s support over five decades.