National Hardwood Magazine - April 2022

NORTHEAST Continued
sales representative for a Pennsylvania sawmill in which
60 percent of their production is White Oak and Red Oak.
“White Oak is moving well and there’s some pressure on
Poplar but it’s still moving well.”
Another sales representative for a Massachusetts lumber
distributer noted that they are also looking for pricing
to level off and become more stable. “It’s very up and
down right now,” he stated. While the company carries
Walnut (Superior FAS) and Red Oak (FAS), he echoed
other sources stating that White Oak is still their top seller.
There is also an uptick in sales of Cherries, according
to multiple Hardwood sales and purchasing representatives
interviewed. Poplar and Maple are also doing well.
As for market fluctuations and challenges for Hardwood
end-users, sources note that the companies they
sell to are doing well and learning to adjust to changes
that are occurring. “I think we’re going to continue to see
a lot of things that aren’t going to make sense for a while
and that’s the normal,” one source said. “There’s just so
many inconsistencies right now and everyone is just trying
to do what they can do to make things happen.” n
SOUTHEAST Continued from page 11
of Red and White Oak, Poplar and Walnut, 4/4 through
10/4, No. 3 Common and Better. “White Oak and Walnut
are selling best,” she said, “but container shipments are
backed up.”
When discussing the current market compared to six
months ago, one source noted that the market might be
a little softer because he’s seeing some price reduction
in Face Red and White Oak. Added to that, he has noticed
that Poplar in Nos. 1 and 2 Common are coming
down a little bit in price. “That could just be that there’s
enough supply on the market and people aren’t bidding
the price up,” he said, “because that’s what we were seeing
last year, all year long.”
The bulk of his company’s sales are in Red and White
Oak, Poplar and Hickory. “White Oak, Red Oak, anytime
I get a load, I can sell it,” he continued. “The exception
is Face & Btr. White Oak – it’s starting to get a little sluggish.
But in the 1s and 2s, as soon as I get a load, it’s
gone.”
Another purchaser from a North Carolina sawmill is
optimistic about the pricing and supply chain challenges
moving forward. “Transportation is a killer but it has
eased up a little bit,” he said. “At one time, the cost was
astronomical per mile, but that has come down and trucks
are a little bit more available.” His company sells Red
and White Oak, Poplar, Ash and Cypress in all grades
to FAS. Among those species and grades, he notes that
White Oak sells best by far, while Red Oak is weakest.
“I don’t believe it’s quite as good as it was six months
ago,” he noted, “but there’s two ways to look at it. You
look at what you ship or the volume of money that’s coming
back in—six months ago, the money was rockin’.” n
WEST COAST Continued from page 11
“Transportation is absolutely no problem for us,” he
stated. “We’ve got a good company that we deal with.”
In Oregon, a lumber source commented, “The market
is good. However, it’s slowing due to the fact that
so many builders aren’t able to complete their homes.
Windows and garage doors are hard to come by. You
can’t get the permit until you’ve got a garage door. It’s
been frustrating for the cabinet manufacturers because
they haven’t been able to deliver completed cabinets to
the job sites.”
The market is about the same as it was several months
earlier, he stated.
His most popular species are White Oak, Walnut and
Poplar. “Walnut and White Oak are high value product,”
he stated. “We carry only Select and Better in those.
“The market is protecting margin, which it should,” he
said. “Unreasonably low prices are not sustainable, although
some companies charge low prices.
“I’m concerned about mortgage rates,” he added.
“What percentage of the buyers do you take out with every
incremental increase – half a point. What does that
do to a lot of people?”
His customers include cabinet manufacturers, general
architectural companies, retail, flooring professionals
and fixture companies.
“Attracting new employees is tough,” he remarked. “I
can also state that a number of our suppliers have the
same problem. Shipping from the mills in the upper Midwest
and the East Coast has been difficult because of
the container shortages. Also, freight is still expensive
and not moving the way it should.”
Also in Oregon, a provider of Walnut, White Oak and
Maple in the higher grades said the market was “very,
very strong.” It was about the same as it was a few
months ago, he added.
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60 APRIL 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE APRIL 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 61