National Hardwood Magazine - December 2021

LAKE STATES Continued from page 10
demand is still up,” he said.
This contact described business as similar to a few
months ago. His company handles high-grade Red Oak,
Hard and Soft Maple, Aspen, Basswood, Ash and Cherry
predominantly in 4/4 but also offers 5/4 and 6/4 thicknesses.
The source said that his business sells to concentration
yards and flooring manufacturers. “Of course, that’s
been a good market this year,” he said. He added that
the demand for common material, especially Red Oak,
“has just been crazy. The flooring guys are just fighting
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over it now, still.”
Transportation issues have loosened for this source,
according to him. His company has a truck that is used
for local sales and sources other operations for out-ofstate
shipments. “It hasn’t been easy most of the year,
but it’s been a little better lately,” he said.
In Indiana, a source reported that the current market in
his area is “still strong.”
“There are a lot of people looking for what little lumber
is produced in the area now that so many mills have shut
down,” he said.
He described supply as “tough” due to high competition.
“The prices stay high, so the
market is definitely supply-driven,”
he said.
When asked to compare business
to two to three months ago, the contact
responded, “It’s definitely slowed
down, especially the Red Oak. Red
Oak is the main one, but everything
else is still going along fairly steady
with a little bit of resistance in price,
but you can still move it.”
His company handles all major
domestic Hardwood species No. 2
Common and Better, including Ash,
Red and White Oak and Walnut,
offered in 4/4 up to 8/4 with some
available in 10/4 and 12/4.
His company sells its products to
retail stores and end users who are
reportedly stressed about increased
costs. “They can’t absorb any more
prices,” he said.
This source described transportation
as “hit and miss at best.”
“A lot of our containers go to California
and sometimes we’re waiting
two weeks to get one in,” he said.
“And with the ships that are operational
out there, it’s getting worse because
they’re not unloading any of
the containers in a timely manner to
come back into the circuit to reload.”
Another lumber buyer in Indiana
reported that he was “pleased” with
the current market, and that “orders
still seem to be good” for his company.
He described supply and demand
as “balanced.”
“There are some items that seem
to have reached their peak and customers
are not as hungry for them, I
guess,” he said. “You know, we were
selling lumber right out of the kiln;
and now, we might put it on the shelf
for a little bit.”
His company handles a variety of
domestic Hardwood species, with
the hottest species being Ash, Red and White Oak and
Hickory, offered in thicknesses from 4/4 up to 8/4 in No.
2 Common and Better.
This contact sells predominantly to end use manufacturers
who are reporting good business, according to
him. “They feel like their orders are going to hold through
the first quarter of next year,” he said.
When asked about transportation, he described it as
“getting better.” n
NORTHEAST Continued from page 10
are still very strong. The tradesmen
are all busy and booking businesses
out, so we’re still very optimistic, just
a little bit quieter,” he said.
This company handles species
including Hard and Soft Maple, Red
Oak, Birch, Ash and Yellow Poplar
ranging from 4/4 up to 8/4 and sells
its products to large Hardwood-demand
companies ranging from distribution
yards to cabinet manufacturers.
When asked what his customers
have to say about the current market
climate, the source responded,
“They would like more lumber at lower
prices. For the hot items out there,
we’re still having trouble keeping
up.”
This lumber buyer reported that
after labor, transportation is his company’s
second biggest challenge.
“Trucks, the cost of trucks, the availability
of trucks, all of it,” he said.
Despite the challenges, the contact
concluded, “We’re optimistic for the
rest of this year and for at least the
second quarter of next year.”
In Maine, a source reported that
the supply of domestic Hardwood
has started to catch up with the market’s
demand, but it is not as slow
for him as it was a few months ago.
“July and August were quiet, but
that’s normal every year,” he said. “I
mean, with scheduled maintenance,
shutdowns and vacations, I don’t
think as much lumber is being produced
or is being used.”
His company handles Hard and
Soft Maple, Yellow Birch and Ash in
predominantly 4/4 up to 8/4 available
in all grades and sells to a split between
end users, wholesalers and
distribution yards.
“The flooring companies we sell
to tell me that their businesses are strong, and they’ve
got orders for the next several months,” he said. “It’s the
same with the kitchen cabinet companies and the distribution
customers that we have. They are very busy.”
When asked about transportation, the contact responded,
“It’s a little frustrating, but not as bad as it was
in the spring when there was demand for just about every
product made. We were fighting with everybody trying
to get the lumber product to the marketplace, and
that’s eased up a little bit. It’s not as bad as it was, but it’s
still a challenge. There are not as many trucks as there
needs to be.” n
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48 DECEMBER 2021 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2021 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 49