Lumber Giants Intertwine in $7 Billion Deal

Core Viewpoint - Rayonier announced the acquisition of PotlatchDeltic in an all-stock deal, valuing the combined company at $7.1 billion, or $8.2 billion including debt, creating one of the largest lumber companies in the US [1] Industry Overview - The timber industry is facing significant challenges in 2025, with fluctuating prices due to tariffs and trade war uncertainties, alongside crashing demand from a stagnant housing market [2] - Lumber futures dropped 24% from a three-year high in August to a seven-month low in September, with the US Lumber Coalition describing the current market conditions as the worst ever [3] Tariffs Impact - A new round of tariffs on imported lumber and wood products is expected to significantly impact Canada's lumber industry, with softwood lumber facing an effective tariff rate of 45% [3] - The protectionist measures could potentially benefit Rayonier and PotlatchDeltic, both operating as REITs, by bolstering their market position [3] Strategic Advantages - The merger will result in the combined ownership of 4.2 million acres of timberland across 11 states, along with seven wood product manufacturing sites and six lumber mills, positioning the new entity as the second-largest timberland owner in the US [6] - Both companies have also leased land to solar farm developers, with these deals projected to be ten times more profitable than traditional timber operations [4]