Issue #11

A new study finds that adding steam to a sauna session substantially increases physiological strain, including heart rate and core temperature, compared to dry heat alone. The research suggests sauna users and operators should account for humidity levels when assessing session intensity and safety.

Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland found that a single 30-minute sauna session paired with a brief cold shower temporarily elevated all major white blood cell types in the bloodstream, including neutrophils and lymphocytes. Levels returned to baseline within approximately 30 minutes after the session ended, suggesting sauna use periodically mobilizes immune cells from tissue storage into circulation.

Longevity entrepreneur Bryan Johnson has published a 26-point sauna protocol drawn from his own daily practice and bloodwork, recommending traditional dry heat, four to seven sessions per week, roughly 20-minute sessions conducted after exercise, and close attention to hydration, air quality, and cooling. Industry analysts note that his detailed, equipment-specific preferences have downstream effects on consumer expectations and product specifications across the sauna market.

A new analysis argues that installing a sauna and cold plunge recovery zone is one of the highest-return additions a gym can make, with equipment costs typically ranging from $15,000 to $40,000 and operators commonly charging a $10–$20 weekly add-on to membership fees. The piece attributes the trend to contrast therapy becoming a mainstream member expectation in 2026, with facilities increasingly chosen or rejected based on the presence of heat and cold recovery options.

Cold plunge experiences are being repositioned as high-end wellness travel offerings, with resorts and spas packaging temperature-contrast rituals alongside sensory design elements such as sound bowls and curated environments. The shift moves cold immersion from a solo recovery tool to a premium experiential category, broadening its commercial appeal and consumer base.

This practitioner-written guide outlines a structured contrast therapy protocol alternating sauna sessions of 10–15 minutes with cold plunges of 2–3 minutes, repeated for three cycles, with guidance on temperature targets, hydration, and session frequency. The article also addresses safety considerations for users with cardiovascular conditions or other health factors.

Some UK sauna operators report a rebound in bookings during England's fourth heatwave of the summer, tied to claims that repeated heat exposure can build tolerance to high ambient temperatures over time. Experts caution that sauna use does not provide same-day protection against extreme heat and that stacking thermal exposures without acclimatization carries real physiological risk.

Following a July 21, 2026 U.S. Court of International Trade ruling, the Department of Commerce has amended the final results of its countervailing duty expedited review on Canadian softwood lumber and reinstated the CVD order accordingly. The action reflects the court's sustaining of Commerce's remand redetermination in a case that has been contested since 2019.

The U.S. Lumber Coalition has issued a formal response to Canadian government statements concerning ongoing softwood lumber trade law measures, defending the application of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian imports. The statement reflects continued friction between the two countries as they negotiate ahead of a looming tariff deadline.

Fastmarkets senior economist Dustin Jalbert outlines a rebalancing North American softwood lumber market in which supply has tightened due to sawmill curtailments and reduced Canadian imports, supporting prices despite flat end-use demand. Energy costs, housing affordability constraints, and AI-related infrastructure investment are identified as new pressures on the wood products supply chain heading into the second half of 2026.

Canadian lumber producer Interfor expects to record a non-cash incremental expense of approximately US$76 million in the second half of 2026 following an increase in preliminary U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duty rates to a combined 25.18% under the seventh administrative review. The charge applies to roughly 20% of the company's production that is shipped from Canada to the United States.

Canada's softwood lumber exports to the United States fell 13% in the first half of 2026, dropping the U.S. share of total Canadian exports by one percentage point to 89%, while average export prices declined 16% to $186 per cubic metre. Canada is actively pursuing market diversification, with the federal government committing nearly $130 million to forest-sector projects aimed at opening new export pathways.

Interfor reported adjusted EBITDA of C$92.3 million in the second quarter of 2026, triple the prior quarter, as lumber prices rose 11% and production increased alongside further unit cost reductions. The Canadian producer warned that substantially higher U.S. duties could weigh on second-half results, with its combined anti-dumping and countervailing duty exposure now at a 25.18% rate.

Madison's Lumber Reporter notes that benchmark softwood lumber prices remained firm through late July 2026 despite typical summer demand softness, driven by reduced sawmill production rates and thin inventory throughout the supply chain. Logistical challenges including truck and rail car availability added further friction for operators attempting to source and deliver lumber.

The Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite reached US$535 per thousand board feet in July 2026, its highest level since September 2022 and approximately 23% above the same period last year, driven by supply contraction rather than demand growth. Two years of sawmill curtailments, mill closures, and trade disruptions have significantly reduced the production base even as the U.S. housing sector remains under pressure from elevated mortgage rates.

Lumber futures surrendered a $50-per-thousand-board-feet gain in five days following what analysts describe as algorithm-driven trading that forced long positions out of the market, while the physical cash market showed comparatively modest weakness. The Commitment of Traders report, which only runs through Tuesday, shows funds getting longer, leaving the full picture of current market positioning incomplete.

Madison's Lumber Prices Index reached US$558 per thousand board feet for the week ending July 31, 2026, a 1% increase from the prior week and a 2% gain from one month earlier, while remaining roughly flat year-over-year. The index uses weighted averages of Western SPF, Eastern SPF, Douglas fir, and Hem-Fir — the same species tracked by lumber futures contracts.

A mid-year analysis finds that the global forest-products industry closed the first half of 2026 with lower trade volumes, restrained construction demand, and widening regional cost disparities, as buyers across major markets purchased only against confirmed requirements and exporters struggled to maintain margins. Softwood lumber imports by the ten largest consuming countries fell by approximately 3.9 million cubic metres year-on-year in the first quarter, with the United States, China, and Germany accounting for much of the decline.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that Canada's ongoing trade negotiations with the United States are aimed at removing Section 232 tariffs across key sectors including steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber, ahead of a threatened 50% duty increase on additional Canadian goods set for August 19. Carney indicated Canada may retaliate if the new tariffs proceed, as both governments race to finalize a deal before the deadline.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security has proposed expanding Section 232 national security tariffs to 14 additional derivative articles made primarily from steel, aluminum, or copper, with most products facing a proposed 25% duty rate. The comment period closes August 27, 2026, and affected products span a range of industrial and commercial goods including parts of heat exchange units.

Construction material inflation reached 9% year-over-year in June 2026, its highest level since late 2022, driven by tariffs and geopolitical disruption that sharply elevated aluminum, copper, and steel prices, while bid prices rose only 3.5%, deepening margin pressure for firms with fixed-price commitments. Construction wages also climbed 4.9% year-over-year, leaving roughly 70% of project costs rising faster than the prices contractors are able to bid.

C.H. Robinson's August 2026 truckload market update reports that U.S. freight capacity has tightened considerably as hurricane season begins, with driver availability further constrained by regulatory and immigration policy changes affecting non-domiciled CDL holders. Any significant weather event impacting a major metro area is now more likely to cause broader freight network disruptions given reduced slack in the system.

U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index data for Q2 2026 shows shippers moved 2.8% less freight year-over-year while spending jumped 28.1%, reflecting a market in which tightening capacity and higher fuel costs are driving up per-load costs without any offsetting volume growth. Senior ATA economist Bob Costello noted that fuel, while a factor, was not the primary driver of the spending increase.

As diesel prices surged amid U.S.-Iran military tensions in 2026, trucking fleets have deployed fuel surcharges, dynamic planning tools, and contract adjustments to manage rising operating costs. Analysts note that elevated fuel prices have also accelerated capacity reductions, contributing to stronger freight rates across the industry.

The Big Sweat, billed as Australia's first national sauna festival, is scheduled for August 22–23, 2026, at Blue Mountains Sauna in Leura, NSW, and will serve as the launch event for the newly formed Australian Sauna Association. The two-day gathering will bring together sauna operators, practitioners, and enthusiasts from across the country to mark the formalization of a national industry body.

The British Sauna Society has launched the British Sauna Bather Survey 2026, a long-term research and accountability project designed to establish a national benchmark for how UK residents experience and participate in sauna culture. More than 350 people have already responded, and the Society plans to use the data to track progress toward its mission of expanding access to sauna's physical, mental, and social benefits.

A Condé Nast Traveler feature visits Setomaa, southeast Estonia, where traditional Seto smoke sauna practices remain a living part of daily cultural life near the Russian border. The piece documents how the region's distinct sauna tradition—including all-day firing cycles and multi-use smoke chambers—is preserved by local families as part of a broader effort to maintain Seto cultural identity.