Some suggest that market forces, especially those playing out between the U.S. housing recovery and what’s reported to be a glut of Russian Pine lumber supply at the moment in China, are competing market dynamics currently at the fore. Back in April at the COFI Conference, “fragile” was an oft-used word by many speakers in characterizing the forest industry recovery after five dismal years. The futures market has spoken; traders anticipate the increase in supply capacity will outstrip fibre scarcity concerns in the short term. The timing of patterns in play just now is fascinating, considering that while offshore activity tends to ease in the summer, variables such as summer sawmill shutdowns and seasonal fire hazards have yet to unfold.