Issue #9

A cross-sectional study measured cardiovascular and renal parameters — including blood pressure, heart rate, urea, and creatinine — in sauna users before and after a session across six facilities in Bujumbura, Burundi. The research adds data on sauna's physiological effects from a sub-Saharan African population, a region where such studies have been limited.

The piece reviews the growing body of evidence linking regular heat exposure to cardiovascular health, stress resilience, and healthy aging, drawing on the work of prominent researchers in the field. It frames sauna as a complementary practice rather than a replacement for foundational habits like exercise and sleep.

The article examines findings from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease study, in which men who used a sauna four to seven times per week showed a 65% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease over nearly 21 years of follow-up. It also outlines proposed cardiovascular and neurological mechanisms that may explain the dose-dependent association.

The Trump administration invoked Section 338 of the 1930 Tariff Act — unused for 96 years — to impose 50% duties on roughly $20 billion in Canadian goods, but softwood lumber and timber were excluded because they are already covered under a separate Section 232 tariff regime carrying a roughly 35% rate. The article explains the procedural distinction and its implications for the Canadian and U.S. lumber industries.

The Forest Products Association of Canada reports that 98 forestry tariff line items were added under the new Section 338 proclamations, covering plywood, paper, and other wood-derived products, with duties set to take effect August 19. Industry leaders warn the tariffs will compound existing pressures on Canadian mills and raise costs for U.S. housing construction.

Lumber prices surpassed $640 per thousand board feet, reaching a one-year high, as more than 900 wildfires in Western Canada — concentrated in British Columbia — threatened forestry operations and tightened softwood supply. Additional pressure came from mill closures driven by Canadian duties, rising U.S. log exports to China, and President Trump's suggestion that wildfire-related costs could be folded into existing tariffs.

Madison's Lumber Reporter finds that benchmark softwood lumber prices have stabilized near year-ago levels, with sawmills holding notable inventory in yards due to transportation bottlenecks affecting truck and rail availability. The report suggests the industry may have reached a price floor, with most analysts expecting flat or rising prices going forward.

More than 1.3 billion board feet of softwood lumber capacity is projected to come offline across North America in 2026, with closures and curtailments continuing in British Columbia and southern U.S. pine regions. The analysis warns that structural capacity losses leave the market increasingly vulnerable to price spikes when housing or remodeling demand rebounds.

The National Association of Home Builders outlines how the new Section 338 tariffs on Canadian products — including cement, plywood, and furniture — add supply-chain and pricing uncertainty for builders, even though softwood lumber, steel, aluminum, and copper remain under separate existing tariff regimes. NAHB has continued to urge the administration to exempt building materials from tariff actions.

A Canadian wood products manufacturer argues in an opinion piece that the federal government should extend retaliatory trade protections to the wood sector, which is on pace to fall below 50% capacity utilization in 2026 — a level at which facilities typically close permanently. The author draws a parallel to Canada's active defense of its steel and aluminum industries.

President Trump signed a proclamation establishing an incentive program under Section 232 that allows companies committing to build or expand domestic aluminum smelters to import a matching quantity of primary aluminum at half the standard tariff rate. The Secretary of Commerce will oversee compliance and retains authority to revoke benefits if companies fail to meet their onshoring commitments.

The Q3 2026 TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index shows U.S. truckload rates have reached a four-year high, driven by a combination of elevated diesel prices and reduced carrier capacity. Less-than-truckload rates are also expected to hit record highs in Q3, with parcel ground rates similarly elevated due to fuel surcharges.

Truckload spot rates pulled back roughly 10% from their Fourth of July peak but remain more than 55% above year-ago levels, with peak-season tightening expected through August. ArcBest's consolidation of its LTL network — closing approximately 10 terminals and sunsetting two brands — is removing capacity from an already stressed market.

A community-run smoke sauna on the shores of Lake Rikkavesi in North Savo, Finland, is heated every Wednesday in summer by volunteers who spend around six hours preparing it for up to 50 guests arriving by foot, boat, and seaplane. The article describes the traditions and social rituals surrounding this enduring form of Finnish sauna culture.

The piece traces how sauna culture varies across Finland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, and Denmark, from collective communal experiences to solitary contemplative rituals, and examines how national traditions are woven into architecture, social life, and identity. It also explores how the international travel industry is positioning authentic Nordic sauna experiences as a form of cultural immersion rather than a simple spa amenity.

A record of nearly 1,000 sauna enthusiasts from 16 countries participated in the 14th European Sauna Marathon in Otepää, Estonia, moving through 21 uniquely designed saunas including a cave sauna and a rave sauna set inside a historic swimming pool. The event drew both competitive and recreational participants, with teams competing in coordinated costumes and elaborate sauna installations.

A new generation of young Koreans is rediscovering sauna culture, gravitating toward premium sauna clubs and gym saunas as spaces for wellness, community, and disconnection from digital life, even as many traditional neighborhood facilities continue to close. The trend reflects a broader shift in how heat bathing is perceived among younger consumers in Korea.