Features Harvesting Logging Profiles
Survey snippet 1: Logging rates increased over the last five years

In the 2024 Canadian Forest Industries’ Contractor Survey, we asked respondents whether their logging rates have increased, stayed the same, or decreased compared to the rates their operations were paid five years ago.

An encouraging 65 per cent of respondents indicated that their logging rates have increased during this period – 20 per cent higher than in CFI’s 2020 Contractor Survey. Of these, 35 per cent reported an increase of five per cent or less, 16 per cent saw their rates climb by more than five per cent, while 14 per cent of respondents said their rates went up by more than 10 per cent. The remaining respondents were either unsure of their rate changes or worked with companies that have not been in existence for the full five years.

This increase was seen from coast to coast, with those in Alberta coming out on top at 80 per cent. Similarly, the B.C. Interior saw 78 per cent of the respondents seeing varying rate increases.

However, not all respondents have experienced growth – 17 per cent reported that their rates have remained unchanged over the last five years, down from 27 per cent in 2020 and 36 per cent in the 2018 Contractor Survey.

In 2024, seven per cent of the respondents indicated a decrease in their logging rates, down from 14 per cent in 2020 and 11 per cent in 2018.

B.C. Coast had the lowest percentage of contractors reporting a decrease in rates at zero; 58 per cent reported an increase, while 17 per cent said rates have stayed the same. A large number of respondents from the region – 25 per cent – either didn’t know or were too new to compare rates.

Look for more news from the CFI 2024 Contractor Survey on www.woodbusiness.ca and in our eNews over the coming weeks, with a final digital report in December and a summary in the November/December print issue. Be sure to subscribe to our free eNews to get all the latest industry news.

This survey was conducted from April to June 2024 by independent research firm Bramm Research, generating 195 replies to a detailed list of questions. Respondents were distributed according to the geographic breakdown of the forest industry, with 42 per cent of respondents in Western Canada, 25 per cent in Quebec and the rest found in Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Within B.C., responses were split between the B.C. Coast and Interior. Many thanks to our Premium sponsor, Link-Belt Forestry and our Gold sponsor, John Deere, for making this research possible.