An unreliable rail service has forced a growing number of US and Canadian lumber producers to transport their products by water instead, according to industry newsletter Random Lengths.
Companies in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia are turning to vessels for moving their output to markets in Southern California and the East Coast.
One industry observer has estimated green fir inventories on Southern California docks to be up 50% on a year ago, while another said “creative loading” was being used on vessels not designed to carry lumber.
Railroad operator Union Pacific announced plans in July to cut volumes it carries in key corridors, as well as developing an allocation system for some shipments through important terminals and cutting back the number of trains.
