RISI's International Woodfiber Report Cautions 'US South Woodfiber Crisis to Persist'

BOSTON, January 21 - Today RISI, through its International Woodfiber Report (IWR), indicated
that woodfiber availability in the US South will remain at "crisis levels"
for some time to come. The report stated that even though prices have
remained muted, there remain widespread inventory shortages and that most
wood stockpiles have dwindled to critical lows. IWR also reports that it will
take several weeks "at best" for a return to stability, but that for the time
being, prices are being held down by a series of facilities shutting down for
maintenance. The report notes that while it is possible that prices have
peaked, it would only take a few additional days of wet conditions to force
mills to choose between outages or higher woodfiber prices.

(Logo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080521/NEW122LOGO )

Chris Lyddan, Executive Editor of the International Woodfiber Report,
comments, "Open market prices across the US South in the fourth quarter
gained an average of US$3/ton, or 9%, for roundwood and chips, compared to
the third quarter, yet were 8% below the same period a year ago." He
continued, "On a cost basis, however, some multi-mill companies experience
higher 'all in' woodfiber expenses in December-January due to substantial
internal volumes traveling great distances between supporting, sister mills,
often landing at US$45-50/ton, 10-20% above fourth quarter averages."

The International Woodfiber Report is a monthly publication that reports
on North American woodfiber prices, supply and demand. A one-year
subscription to the International Woodfiber Report can be purchased for
US$597 at www.risi.com/wf , by calling +1-866-271-8525, or by sending an
email to wt@risi.com.

About RISI

RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products
industry. The company works with clients in the timber, wood biomass, pulp
and paper, wood products, tissue, nonwovens, printing and publishing
industries to help them make better decisions.

Headquartered in Boston (Bedford), Massachusetts, RISI operates offices
in Brussels, Belgium; Atlanta, Georgia; San Francisco, California; Portland,
Oregon; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Shanghai, China; Helsinki, Finland; Singapore; and
Charlottesville, Virginia. More information can be found at www.risi.com.

    Contact:
    Dan Blenk
    Director of Marketing Wood & Timber Information
    RISI
    4 Alfred Circle, Bedford MA 01730 U.S.A.
    Tel: +1-781-734-8942
    Email: dblenk@risi.com

Dan Blenk, Director of Marketing Wood & Timber Information of RISI, +1-781-734-8942, dblenk at risi.com