The Softwood Forest Products Buyer - November/December 2022

Northeast Business Trends
By Cadance Hanson
Staff Writer
Inland West Business Trends
By Terry Miller
President
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Across the Northeast region, sources said that the
market is decent, as of this writing. There is however
a mixed bag on if it’s holding up to the level it was at
six months ago.
A lumber saleswoman in Massachusetts said she
noticed that while her market continues to be decent,
it is worse than it was six months ago. She said that
she sells to retail lumber dealers, home centers, and
industrial accounts. She noted that her company buys Softwood plywood,
particle board and MDF in grades CDX and AC, and with thicknesses
ranging from 1/4 to 3/4.
“Transportation is better; trucks are pretty easy to get right now,” she
said. “Fuel has come down in price. The rates on trucking have only come
down a tiny bit, but trucks are available,” she continued. She also remarked
on how it’s not just the trucks that are easier to book but rail and ocean
freight as well.
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Sources said, at the time of this writing, that the
market in the Inland West region is continuing to
stay steady. One source did remark that the lower
grade markets are tougher than the higher grade
markets.
A lumber representative in Idaho said that his
market has been decent, “Our customers are buying
what we are making,” he said. He did note that his
sales were better three months ago, with dimension lumber not selling as
well. He also remarked that the economy isn’t inspiring to buy at the time
of this writing.
He deals with Ponderosa Pine and Cedar in a variety of grades. He has
Ponderosa Pine in measurements of 1x4 through 1x12, as well as 5/4
shop. He has Cedar in 1x4 through 1x12 and 2x4 through 2x12 measurements
as well as 5/4 decking. Ponderosa Pine upper grade 2C is his best
seller, followed by Cedar boards.
This lumber representative sells mainly to distribution yards, and he
stated their business is still doing
well. “What’s responsible
for the softness in the market
is the distribution yards trying
to trim their inventory. It’s a normal,
seasonal pattern,” he noted.
He added that they are still moving
wood, but they are trying to
lower their perceived risk.
When it comes to transportation,
he said that trucks have
gotten a little bit better and that
rail has gone from horrible to
mediocre. “We’re doing alright.
The wood’s getting moved. It’s
working,” he said.
In Wyoming, a sawmill
representative said that sales
to customers who deal in shop
work hasn’t changed much over
the past few months. “Upper
and shop grades are trading
very well. The lower grades are
struggling. It seems that there
is an awful lot of it available on
the market right now,” he said.
He said that the market seems
worse than it was six months
ago. “Activity and trading levels
are both lower now than they
were six months ago,” he commented.
This sawmill representative
deals with, Ponderosa Pine,
Lodgepole Pine boards, Ponderosa
Pine shop, and ESLP studs,
all in one inch. “The higher
grades in all these species are
selling better. Lower grades
aren’t selling as well because
they seem to have a higher production
rate right now,” he said.
He also noted that it seemed that
there was salvaging going on in
the West, at the time of this writing,
as fire damaged trees are being
harvested. “They just aren’t
getting the type of recovery that
they typically do,” he added.
Continued on page 54
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Page 36 Softwood Forest Products Buyer • November/December 2022