National Hardwood Magazine - October 2021

WEST COAST Continued
In California, a lumberman stated, “The market is good,
QUEBEC Continued from page 12
grades are selling better than the lower grades, although
but you have to have lumber to sell. I would say access
most grades and thicknesses are in high demand. n
use manufacturing companies in flooring, cabinetry and to lumber is improving in certain species.”
ports to Canada rose 45 percent (11.3 MMBF). Vietnam
moulding,” he remarked. “A lot of our customers are still Compared to a few months ago, he said his market is
was up 11 percent and Mexico gained 66 percent. Domestic
business, it was noted, had edged lower during
Keep up with
doing really well right now.
“about the same, which is good.” He sells FAS No. 1 and
“Transportation is still tough, but in the last month, No. 2 Walnut, Hickory and White Oak, with White Oak
the summer, but was moving along at a steady pace.
we’ve found it is getting a little better. My assumption and Walnut being his best sellers. He sells his lumber
Kiln-dried markets are keeping developing supplies thin,
is: there is less freight for truckers to haul. That’s why
although it was reported prices had slipped in late Au-
the latest
to flooring manufacturers and retail lumber yards. “Their
you have more trucks available. We were having trouble business has been very solid,” he remarked. “They’ve
gust. Demand for green No. 3A and Better was steady,
getting trucks for a while. It wasn’t about how much you been booking orders on a regular basis.”
and mills and wholesalers were shipping total output.
industry news
were willing to pay; the availability just wasn’t there. And Asked if transportation is a problem, he said, “It’s harder
getting containers delivered from
and competition for White Oak logs limited the volume nationalhardwoodmag.com
White Oak production was not high over the summer,
now we’re seeing the availability there.”
the mills, but transportation in California
is no problem.” n
their focus was on high valued
received by some area mills. Also,
whitewoods. Some contacts noted
kiln-dried business was slower in
ONTARIO Continued from page 12
late summer than earlier in the year.
Sawmills have increased Ash
production, however, they must prioritize
COVID-19, it was noted, had an impact
on shipments and new orders.
which species will be sawn
Residential flooring manufactur-
to prevent stain damage. Some
contacts struggle with labor shortages
and skilled workers which is
impacting output. Domestic and international
markets are keeping this
species thin on supplies for most
grades and thicknesses, with prices
remaining high.
Some buyers have been seeking
lower cost alternative species and
so have increased their purchases
of Basswood. Activity for green and
kiln-dried stocks was higher due to
seasonally lower production and
overall supplies. With solid demand
and restricted availability, it pushed
prices up.
Demand for Birch continues to be
strong from regular customers, but
there has been an increased demand
by non-traditional customers
as well, thus resulting in shortages
of green and kiln-dried stocks. With
production being geared to the higher
valued species, this has added
supply strains for Birch. Kiln-dried
inventories are low for Birch, commented
some contacts.
Demand for Aspen has been solid
even though production is not particularly
high, with supplies below buyers’
needs. Prices are firm, and kilndried
inventories are low, particularly
for the upper grades. n
ers and truck trailer flooring were
busy. They are struggling to procure
volumes needed to meet current
and near term demand for finished
goods. This also means that prices
are rising.
Demand for Cherry is dependent
on the market in question. North
American and Mexican sales are
improving, although from low levels.
China exports are lackluster, though.
Some sawmills have reduced their
production, yet supplies in some areas
are exceeding demand, resulting
in lower prices.
Contacts noted that Hickory is performing
well on the domestic front,
with residential flooring leading the
sales of this species. Exports have
also improved. Prices for kiln-dried
and green Hickory saw an upward
rise as a result of demand.
Poplar demand was good on domestic
markets, commented contacts,
especially to the millwork and
moulding producers. Exports, it was
noted, were a bit slower, but domestic
demand was offsetting this.
Contacts reported Walnut demand
is good both on domestic and international
markets. Sawmills are receiving
multiple offers for green lumber
produced. Drying operations are
also being kept busy with most items
moving quickly. They note that upper
64 OCTOBER 2021 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 65