Sources & Methodology

Last reviewed: July 13, 2026. TimberInsider publishes news, price context and analysis for the global wood industry. This page explains how information is selected, checked, normalized, updated and corrected. Our objective is to make each material claim traceable to a defined source, period, product and geography while clearly separating facts, estimates and forecasts.

Source hierarchy

We prefer primary sources when they are available and relevant. These include government statistical agencies, customs authorities, regulators, exchanges, standards organizations, court or policy documents, company filings, audited reports and direct company announcements. International sources frequently used for sector context include FAO forest-product statistics and UNECE forest-product market reviews.

Trade associations, specialist publications, supplier communications and market-data services may provide additional context or more timely observations. Secondary reporting is checked against the underlying document whenever possible. Anonymous or social-media claims are not treated as confirmed facts without independent evidence. A source’s proximity to the event does not remove the need to evaluate its incentives, definitions and data period.

Verification before publication

  1. Identify the claim. We separate verifiable facts, attributed statements, calculations and editorial interpretation.
  2. Check the original source. Names, dates, units, geography and quoted figures are compared with the primary document where accessible.
  3. Test internal consistency. Totals, percentages, currencies and year-on-year comparisons are recalculated when practical.
  4. Seek corroboration. Material market claims are compared with a second independent source or clearly attributed to the single available source.
  5. Add context. We state the comparison period, product definition and limitations needed to interpret a number.
  6. Review links and presentation. Sources, internal links, headings, tables, image attribution and metadata are checked before approval.

Price-data methodology

Wood prices are specification-sensitive. A valid reference should identify the product, species or panel type, grade, dimensions or thickness, moisture or bond class where relevant, region, currency, unit, volume, date and delivery basis. Ex-forest, delivered-mill, ex-works, FOB and delivered quotations are not directly interchangeable.

When comparing values, we normalize units only when the necessary dimensions and assumptions are known. Currency conversions use a stated period or rate; they do not imply that a local transaction occurred in the converted currency. Freight, duties, insurance, handling and inland transport are separated from the underlying material price whenever possible. Published ranges can combine observed offers or reported transactions, but they remain indicative rather than guaranteed purchasing prices.

Futures prices, producer list prices, customs unit values, retail prices and physical wholesale quotations describe different markets. TimberInsider labels these distinctions and does not present one as a direct substitute for another. Customs unit values are useful for broad trade trends but may reflect a changing product mix rather than a pure price movement.

Statistics, calculations and charts

Statistics are attributed to their publisher and latest available data period. Calculated growth rates use the displayed underlying values unless otherwise stated. Rounding can cause small differences in totals. Charts should identify the source, unit, geography and period and must not use a visual scale that materially distorts the trend. Estimates and revised historical series are labelled when the source provides that status.

Forecasts and scenarios

Forecasts are conditional assessments, not promises. An outlook should state its starting period, forecast horizon, principal drivers and identifiable risks. Where uncertainty is high, we prefer directional or scenario analysis over unsupported precision. Base, upside and downside cases may consider construction demand, mill capacity, raw-material supply, inventories, energy, freight, currency and policy. Forecasts are reviewed when new evidence materially changes the assumptions.

Company statements and conflicts of interest

Company production targets, project capacities, investment values and executive comments are attributed to the company and are not automatically treated as independently verified outcomes. Announced capacity is distinguished from commissioned and effective output. TimberInsider separates editorial decisions from advertising and commercial relationships. Sponsored material, if published, must be identified and does not determine independent editorial conclusions.

AI-assisted production

TimberInsider may use automated tools and artificial intelligence to assist with discovery, transcription, translation, summarization, drafting, formatting, image concepts and consistency checks. AI output is not accepted as a source. Material facts, figures, quotations and links require verification against accessible evidence, and publication remains subject to editorial approval. AI-generated or edited images are illustrative unless explicitly identified as documentary material; they must not be presented as evidence of an event.

Updates, freshness and version control

Market articles should display or communicate the relevant data period. A page can remain useful after publication if historical dates are clear, but current-price and forecast pages require periodic review. Updates may add newer data, improve sourcing, correct links or clarify methodology. WordPress revision history supports recovery of earlier versions, while material changes should be reflected in the visible review date or article context.

Corrections and clarifications

When credible evidence shows that a material fact is wrong, we review the original source and supporting documentation, correct the content and add clarification when the change affects the article’s conclusion. Minor spelling or formatting fixes may be made without a notice. Requests should include the page URL, the disputed statement, the proposed correction and supporting primary evidence.

Send correction requests to editor@timberinsider.com. Submitting a request does not guarantee a change, but documented evidence will be reviewed. For broader governance, see the editorial policy, about page and contact page.

Core reference sources