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Publisher’s Soap Box – Part 3: 2025 Market Review, Housing Outlook Holds Promise in the New Year - Dec 24, 2025
While most experts are not suggesting that boom times are back, the doldrums experienced this year in the housing sector may dissipate in 2026. While affordability has improved marginally in the last quarters in most metros of the U.S., it is still much worse than five years ago. And rising insurance costs and taxes have at least partially offset lowering home prices over the last year.; PLA Releases 4th Quarter Pallet Recycling Analysis: Factors suggest stable recycled pallet pricing into year-end, with limited downside unless a broad demand slowdown materializes. Another key factor heading into 2026 could be limited retailer restocking and the potential for a holiday pallet flush.; USDA Announces Farmer Relief, Lumber Producers Could Be Included: The specifics of who qualifies and how to apply for these funds has yet to be released by the White House. This could potentially include softwood and hardwood lumber producers.; EU Governing Bodies Reach Agreement on EUDR Implementation Delay: U.S. lumber and wood providers among other interests have lobbied for simplification of the rules and processes as well as a delay to allow operators, traders and authorities to prepare adequately.; Pallet Foundation Seeks Industry Feedback for Residuals Study: By commenting on your real-world experience, you can help shape the solution through this confidential, short survey; NEWS IN BRIEF: The NWPCA recently hired Michelle Sullivan as its new senior director of marketing. APHIS will end its temporary suspension of the ISPM-15 hyphen requirement. more...
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Publisher’s Soap Box – Part 2: 2025 Market Review, Freight Activity Confirms a Persistent Goods Recession - Dec 19, 2025
The U.S. economy is entrenched in a goods recession. While consumer spending on services might be holding steady, the movement of physical goods—the lifeblood of manufacturing, retail, and industrial sectors—has ground to a halt. This isn’t speculation; Ed Brindley Jr. Passes Away, Leaves Strong Legacy: He spent his life dedicated to teaching as a college math professor and helping others through his trade publications serving the pallet and lumber industries. His focus was helping pallet companies run better businesses and improve their operations. more...
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In Debt for Equity Swap, Private Lenders Assume Equity Control of 48forty Solutions - Dec 17, 2025
This deal would wipe out one billion of the company’s debt, which would stabilize the company’s finances. This agreement is likely to close by the end of the year and will result in the new owners taking board positions to guide the overall company direction.; Ed Brindley Jr. Passes Away, Leaves Strong Legacy: During his pallet industry career, he visited countless pallet plants, wrote about many of the leading companies and technologies and spoke at numerous forest products industry meetings and events. His focus was helping pallet companies run better companies and improve their operations.; The Missing Link for Developing Better Pallet Standards – What Deflection Rate Is Ideal for Automated Warehouse Systems? A deflecting pallet can increase the risk of product damage by causing pressure points and deforming the top deck of the pallet. This can also make it difficult to remove the pallet from a rack. more...
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Publisher’s Soap Box – Part 1: 2025 Market Review, Outlook on 2026 - Dec 12, 2025
Customers keep on wanting cheaper prices. But it seems the market in most cases has reached the bottom of what companies can do unless they are trying to move unwanted used inventory or are somehow able to make it up in volume. But if you are losing money, volumes don’t really matter.; NEWS IN BRIEF: The U.S. Forest Service recently extended the deadline for companies applying for Wood Innovation Grants until mid-January. The NWPCA has released an updated version of the Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets. more...
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Fox Business Highlights U.S. Hardwood Sawmill Industry at Risk - Dec 5, 2025
The article highlighted the stress on Johnny Evans of Evans Lumber Co. in Manchester, Tennessee. “It’s deathly quiet around here,” Evans said. “Usually we run at least three days a week. That’s not just here. It’s a lot of our other customers. They’ve chosen not to receive lumber from us this week.”; Larson Packaging Company Acquires Great Western Eagle Packaging: This move immediately enhances LPC’s capabilities to serve defense, aerospace, drone, IT and electronic industries in the Bay Area, San Diego and now Orange County/Los Angeles/Inland Empire areas.; Holiday Schedule – Season’s Greetings! Pallet Profile will not be published January 2, 2026 according to our regular weekly schedule. After the New Year, the Profile will resume its regular schedule and will be published again on January 9, 2026. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our readers! Premium Lumber Absolute Auction: December 16th, 9 AM EST. Seller, John Gusler. Online and phone bidding only. No minimums! No reserves! This auction offers a unique opportunity to purchase high-quality, fresh cut, notched #1 grade pallet stringers by the truckload. With at least 10 truckloads available at various locations. Call Jonathon: (574) 821-7530 or email: jm@brightstarauctions.com. Bright Star Auctions. more...
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The Missing Link for Developing Better Pallet Standards: What Deflection Rate Is Ideal for Automated Warehouse Systems? - Nov 26, 2025
Pallet deflection is the bending or sagging of a pallet under a load. A deflecting pallet can increase the risk of product damage by causing pressure points and deforming the top deck of the pallet. This can also make it difficult to remove the pallet from a rack.; In Debt for Equity Swap, Private Lenders Assume Equity Control of 48forty Solutions: This agreement is likely to close by the end of the year and will result in the new owners taking board positions to guide the overall company direction. The good news for 48forty is that this move would clear off a substantial amount of debt while providing some capital for ongoing operations. more...
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Housing Market Shows Stresses; NAR Predicts Growth Ahead in 2026 - Nov 21, 2025
The latest results remain in the negative area of the index pointing to continued negative market sentiments. Overall, housing starts for single-family units have declined this year. The U.S. housing market is predicted to finally turn the corner in 2026, with a double-digit increase in home sales supporting a 4% increase in home prices.; American Lumber Interests Criticize Additional Canadian Sawmill Subsidies: In response, the U.S. Lumber Coalition and the American Loggers Council are both encouraging President Trump to increase tariff measures on Canadian lumber. This heightens the pressure on the Trump administration to maintain its strong stance on Canadian lumber imports.; NEWS IN BRIEF: Hampton Lumber broke ground on its first sawmill in the East Coast.; Premium Lumber Absolute Auction: December 2nd, 9 AM EST. Seller: Various Consignors. Online and phone bidding only. No minimums! No reserves! This auction offers a unique opportunity to purchase high-quality, fresh cut, notched #1 grade pallet stringers by the truckload. With at least 10 truckloads available at various locations. Call Jonathon: (574) 821-7530. Bright Star Auctions. more...
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Cutting Edge Technology and Best Practices on Display - Nov 19, 2025
The NWPCA tours visited a Relogistics reusable packaging center, Neopal and Hinton Lumber all located in or near Houston, Texas. Key focuses for the tours included high-speed nailing machines, pallet inspection, AI Vision and quality control processes.; Brambles Continues to Focus on Serialization and Asset Tracking in North America: The pallet rental giant sees its investment in data generation and digital technology as critical to its future success. Tracking will help CHEP provide data about supply chain movements to customers, reduce waste and improve asset utilization that will change the nature of tough audit conversations with customers and distributors.; Dallas Pallet Fire Tied to Incinerator: Only the pallets and the incinerator were damaged according to various media reports. Investigators determined that sparks from an incinerator used to destroy old pallets ignited nearby stacks.; AI Poses Problem with Pallet Sales and Billing Scams: So, what red flags should you look for? One thing to be careful of is companies using the names of other recognizable players as a way to develop a false sense of credibility. Check references and be sure that new contacts are indeed credible. more...
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UFP Industries Announces Third Quarter 2025 Results, PalletOne Sales Down Slightly - Nov 14, 2025
Gross profit declines were primarily due to PalletOne because of price competition as the pallet manufacturer executes its strategy to increase market share. Long-term the company hopes to achieve 7-10% unit sales growth annually with at least 10% of all sales coming from new products.; Plastic Pallet Manufacturer Greystone Logistics Lays Off Almost 40% of Its Workforce: A major customer putting a halt to orders demonstrates the difficulty in the current market. Sluggish demand is not only affecting wood pallet companies. It is also a challenge for plastic producers.; EU Decides Not to Delay EUDR Implementation: Even though full enforcement won’t occur until next year, regulators may issue warnings to shippers and guidance on compliance in some cases. The EUDR does not cover pallets under load going into the EU. more...
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Fall Plant Tours – Part II: Neopal, A Masterclass on Quality Control and Precision - Nov 7, 2025
This location in Houston, Texas was designed from the ground up to fit Neopal’s mission and vision of the future to employ more advanced technologies and new approaches beyond what is seen today. This is the second facility in the company’s history. Jeff Krug, owner, opened up this facility to the industry even as he is planning the next generation of manufacturing at a new plant to be built in 2-3 years.; U.S. and China Reach Trade Deal: China agreed to buy more American agriculture products (including hardwood and softwood logs). In addition, the Trump Administration has initiated a 301 investigation of China’s Implementation of the Phase One Trade Deal, which did require hardwood lumber purchases.; Crosstie Demand Holds Steady Despite Sluggish U.S. Economy: Some positive drivers for railroad activity this year have been moving coal to power data centers, new manufacturing facilities and cryptocurrency mining. The potential for a recession could affect this outlook as well as railway mergers if they occur.; Auction: Premium Lumber Absolute Auction, November 18th, 9 AM EST. Seller: Various Consignors. Online and phone bidding only. No minimums! No reserves! This auction offers a unique opportunity to purchase high-quality, fresh cut, notched #1 grade pallet stringers by the truckload. With at least 10 truckloads available at various locations. Call Jonathon: (574) 821-7530. Bright Star Auctions. more...
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