A continuing threat of tariffs for Canada, as well as the typical spring closure & curtailments for most mills have left very few options for producers and owners seeking to sell wood in markets today.

Notices and updates this week:

· Until further notice JDI will not be signing any contracts for spring but will accept wood at gate wood price.More below.

· 10th JDI – SNB Board Contract coming to a close, March 29th. 

· Studwood to Ledwidge Lumber, $107.25/gmt delivered.

· AV Nackawic to allow reduced deliveries to continue from NB private woodlots beyond March 28th.  Board contract continues until April 30th, 2025.

· Direct deliveries to the Woodland mill in Baileyville are curtailed today, March 21st.Curtailment of all deliveries to the Penobsquis Yard remains in effect from Feb. 28/25.

· Reminders:

o Spring road closure in effect.

o Several mills have curtailed deliveries, see below for more info.

Spring road closure in Southern New Brunswick came into effect March 10th, 2025, and will come into effect March 17th in Northern New Brunswick. Click the link here to see the official notice.

This week JDI notified the Marketing Board and all other producers that “Given the uncertainty of current business conditions JDI will not be entering new contracts or renewing/extending existing wood supply contracts through spring road closure season. This means once existing contracts have been completed either by delivering 100% of the volume or reaching the end date – whichever comes first, any further deliveries by the supplier shall be processed as gatewood at posted prices. This shall be in effect until JDI provides further notice.”

The 10th SNB Board – JDI contract remains active following an agreement to increase the current contract volume to accommodate remaining deliveries until March 29th, 2025. Board staff will be working with producers to find alternative options for those who intend to work through spring.

NOTE: When shipping under the Board’s contract, put SNBFPMB and the producer’s name in brackets in the producer spot on the 

transportation certificate. * This replaces the contract number. * 

Click hereto see the sample TC.

Ledwidge is looking to buy NB studwood at a price of $107.25/gmt delivered to their mill in Nova Scotia (no fuel surcharge).

Specifications on the studwood are:

• Minimum of 75% spruce, only 25% or less being balsam      fir or jack pine.
• Length, 8' 4" (cut 100") or 9' (cut      108").
• Diameter min 4" top to max 15".

All deliveries to the Penobsquis Yard have been curtailed as of February 28th, 2025. Direct deliveries to the mill in Baileyville are curtailed as of today, March 21st, 2025.

Last week, AV Nackawic advised Marketing Boards that the previously announced March 28th curtailment would remain in place for crown and freehold deliveries – and that they would allow reduced deliveries to continue from NB private woodlots beyond March 28th.  We will pass along additional information as it becomes available on this matter.  

A reminder of the market opportunity shipping poplar, maple or birch to AV. Fuel prices have been on the rise, therefore, so has the fuel surcharge.

The contract prices are:

· $66.17/gmt for maple,

· $65.17/gmt for poplar,

· $56.17/gmt for birch. 

· Plus, the additional fuel surcharge for the previous week (March 17/25 – March 21/25) was $4.12/gmt, reflecting a $1.28/liter off road diesel fuel price. This is added to each of the above prices.

The SNB Board and AV have established a contract which began on November 9th, 2024, and continues until April 30th, 2025. AV has implemented a new pricing system to the contract, including a base delivered wood price, along with a fuel surcharge that fluctuates weekly. 

Minimum 3” top, random length 8-18 foot with no forks or dog legs, and absolutely no full 8-foot loads (MAXIMUM 5% under 10-foot).Products must be kept separate but can be brought in on the same truck. 

Trucker key cards for the contract will be available at the scale house. Ensure that the delivered loads are placed under the “SNB Forest Products Marketing Board Contract”, or “SNB Contract”. 

McMillan Forest Products has curtailed all deliveries of cedar effective March 3rd, 2025.

JDI has curtailed the purchase of white pine sawlogs effective February 14th, 2025.

Effective February 7th, 2025, Delco Forest Products has curtailed all deliveries of studwood due to the looming threat of U.S. tariffs. This is a preventative measure to ensure that if tariffs are put in place, the mill will have their inventory accounted for.

Although Delco has curtailed deliveries, Goguen Lumber will continue to purchase spruce sawlogs. This is due to the fact this wood will remain in Canada to be sold and therefore is not at risk of tariffs.

A reminder for all producers and truckers to ensure the correct PID number (not PAN number) is clearly reported to the necessary documents when shipping wood. The correct PID number will be required for payment processing.

Arauco has decreased their price on hardwood pulpwood, effective March 1st, 2025. The base price has decreased by $4.00/gmt. Please contact the office for the “all-in” price including the fuel surcharge.

All deliveries to Arbec have been curtailed. The Board contract volume has been filled, and a new contract will be put in place following spring breakup.

Currency conversion rates for US markets will remain at 1.42%for the week of March 24th, 2025.

For more information on pricing and specifications, please visit our Market pagehere. Or contact the office at (506) 433-9877 or 433-9866.