American Hardwood Supplement 2018

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AMERICAN HARDWOOD Southeast Asia Supplement 2018 Phil Fenwick has been Baillie Lumber’s Director of Asia Sales for many years. Q: As a producer of red oak lumber what do you see as the main differences to white oak? A: The difference between red oak and white oak is that it comes down to texture and colour. The tubules of white oak are closed, whereas the red oak tubules are open – giving a little bit more of a rougher appearance of the grain. In general the other main difference is there are typically ranges of colour in red oak, such as tan or wheat all the way to a deep red. White oak tends to be mostly tan or almost brown in colour. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish white oak from red oak, especially if the red oak is more northern due to the very light colour and appearance. Q: How does red oak perform in flooring and furniture? A: Red oak performs extremely well in flooring and furniture. In the U.S. this has been one of the main species used for flooring for many generations. It is very common that in older homes in the U.S. owners find numerous different styles and widths of red oak flooring. Often when a home owner pulls up an old carpet in a house they are pleased to find red oak floors that they can refinish. Other aspects of red oak are that it tends to be very steady and sands and finishes well. Also, since red oak is an open grain species, when finish is applied it seems to be a little bit more forgiving and blemishes appear to blend because of the open grain appearance. Q: In those export markets where you sell red oak, what is the main reason your customers prefer red to white oak? A: In most cases, we sell red oak into the markets we do because it is a species requested. The end products factories are producing specify red oak as the material of choice. Many times it is because the products produced are intended for a customer segment that prefers the look and feel of red oak. For example, the red oak furniture manufactured in Asia matches up nicely with the red oak cabinets and floors one would find in many homes in the U.S., therefore creating more demand. Another reason that some markets, such as China, tend to buy red oak is because they like the flexibility the open grain appearance provides in manufacturing because it is similar to some of the northern white ash and white oak species that they tend to work with as well. Q: In terms of the resource what are the pressure on northern red oak? A: Red oak grows more abundantly than any other species in North America. It is the predominant species in the entire Appalachian region. Additionally, it is not under attack by any invasive bugs (at the moment). Unlike white ash, white oak, and walnut – which are all battling challenges. Q: Can you say something about the grades of red oak and how they might differ from the grades of other species – if at all? A: With regard to the grading of red oak compared to other species, there really is limited to no difference – the grades are all the same. However, what can be a consideration for customers is the special sorts that can be requested. We work with many customers that will request a certain colour sort, width sort or even a length sort that works particularly well in their manufacturing process. Q: What is the lowest grade you export? A: We find that the grades we export are no different from those we offer in North America. The standard industry grades of FAS/1F (prime), 1C and 2C are all regularly requested. Occasionally we will export 3C or a Frame Stock grade, but that is not very common. 18
Q: What percentage of FAS grade comes from a sawmill run? A: The amount of FAS is completely dependent on the quality of the logs being sawn at the mill. However, in general, about one-third of a log goes to industrial lumber products – such as pallets, cants and rail road ties. The remaining two-thirds is developed into grade lumber with about 15-20% qualifying to be the FAS/1F grade. Q: What are the main differences between northern and southern red oak? A: The main differences between Northern and Southern red oak, from my perspective, are the texture and colour. The texture is much finer on the Northern red oak. This is because the material grows slower and has a higher number of growth rings per inch compared to the Southern material. Southern red oak, which has a longer growing season, results in fewer growth rings per inch and a much larger chance of mineral in the boards and a darker red colour. Something that I think is important to mention about the current U.S. lumber business is the strength of demand for industrial lumber Red oak featured in Sir Terence Conran’s study desk for The Wish List. Image credit: Petr Krejci Photography. products. This would be products such as timbers, cants, railroad ties (rail sleepers) or crane mat material. We are starting to see a shortage in supply for green lumber since industrial lumber product sales are extremely strong at this time. When industrial lumber products are strong it results in less lumber being manufactured into grade lumber that the sawmill ends up producing, drying and exporting. If you talk to manufacturers you will find that it is becoming a challenge to get as much material as they normally have in the past since which is a situation to keep an eye on. Credible. Reliable. Extensive Market Reach. Memphis, TN P: 901.767.9126 • F: 901.767.7536 E: hmr@hmr.com • W: www.hmr.com Hardwood Market Report ® Benchmark pricing and market commentary on North American hardwood lumber and the lumber products industry. Annual Subscription Rate USD 290 for internet access HMR Executive ® A HMR Publication Covering the Hardwood Industry from Woods to Finished Goods. Annual Subscription Rate USD 185 for internet access Hardwood Wizard A powerful search engine designed for the hardwood buyer. A free serice from HMR. Sample copies available at www.hmr.com 19
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