Import:Export Wood Purchasing News - February/March 2018

Ontario Continued from page 22
percent in 2018 to $503,100.
CREA said in a statement in late 2017 that some homebuyers had likely advanced
their purchase decision before the new rules came into effect in 2018,
the “pull-forward” of these sales coming at the expense of sales in the first half
of 2018.
These new rules could have an impact on the housing market and the renovation
markets. As the new year moves forward, the effects of these rules will
be revealed. ■
Quebec
Sources were in shared agreement that demand for hardwood lumber here
is generally good. With exports to China having been strong over the past
year, there is a positive and optimistic outlook for 2018. Sales are reported as
being good in domestic markets, especially for distribution yards, wholesalers
and flooring manufacturers as well as pallet producers. With the onset of
winter, some areas were disrupted by stormy weather conditions.
Ash sales were brisk at the time of this writing, especially for overseas markets,
particularly to China. Cherry is in great demand, and sawmills are having
difficulty keeping up with demand. Again, the Chinese market is the driving
force for demand of this particular species.
Hickory demand is readily absorbing production for this species. There has
been demand from flooring manufacturers and from export markets for kilndried
lumber for this species. Prices are reported as fairly steady as well.
Demand for the regionally important species – Hard Maple – has been rising,
although it is not all the same for the grades and thicknesses. It was noted
that business was stronger for 4/4 than for thicker stocks of No. 1 Common,
No. 2A, and No. 3A than for the uppers. Flooring, cabinet and wood component
manufacturers were purchasing more of this species than other end
users.
Soft Maple has dropped and was noted as being sluggish, with upper grade
sales being slower than for No. 1 Common and No. 2A sales of most thicknesses.
Contacts noted there has been no difficulty moving Red Oak as demand
has held particularly good. Flooring manufacturers continue purchasing large
quantities of this species, as are those who produce truck trailer flooring.
Some supplies of this species are being kiln-dried for export to China, with
orders set for delivery before and after the Chinese New Year.
White Oak has been in demand from flooring manufacturers, as well as for
domestic and export markets. Demand for Poplar has also been strong to
moulding, millwork and wood furniture factories for most grades of this species.
Thus, production has kept pace with demand, and prices are holding
firm. ■
BUSINESS TRENDS U.S.A.
Lake States
Hardwood sources in the Lake States region are reporting an overall healthy
and robust market, with few transportation issues.
A Michigan sawmill representative said the market in his area right now is
better than it was six months ago.
“We’re Hard Maple, 85 percent, and all grades are moving briskly,” he said,
adding he had no concerns or problems with transportation.
He also said he had no major issues with raw material shortages.
“There’s heavy competition, but that would be the only reason for the shortage,”
he said.
The supplier, who sells to distribution yards and end users, said he’s not
heard of any issues with demand for lumber outside of the industrial market.
“Industrial-grade seems to be in short supply,” he commented.
An Ohio provider of rift and quartered sawn noted that in her market, business
was worse compared to six months ago.
“In White Oak, our queue is a little slow right now,” she said.
The lumber provider, who sells No. 1 Common and No. 2 Common and Better
FAS in Red and White Oak and Walnut, said she doesn’t have any problems
with transportation.
“We are domestic and export, we do a little bit of everything. More domestic
than export, though,” she said.
As far as shortages, she has noticed problems with log availability.
“Logs have been a real issue,” she commented.
The source said she hasn’t heard much change in demand, but she knows
Walnut sales slowed down after a short uptick before the end of 2017.
“As far as what customers are looking for, nothing has changed,” she said.
“We went through a spurt where everyone wanted nothing but Walnut. It’s kind
Continued on page 24
Lawrence Lumber
Company Inc.
P.O. Box 750 Maiden, NC 28650
Tel: (828) 428-5601 Fax: (828) 428-5602
website: www.lawrencelumberinc.com
For Appalachian Hardwood lumber sales contact David Boythe at
(919) 830-4672, or email him at davidboythe@gmail.com
Green lumber vendors please contact Steve Leonard at (828) 446-
0845, or email him at sgleonard@bellsouth.net
MEMBER
DELIVERING EXPECTATIONS
WORLDWIDE
Our Hardwood concentration yard in Maiden, NC is near Highway 321 and
Interstate 40 where we process quality kiln dried Appalachian Hardwood
lumber in these four species Red Oak, White Oak, Poplar and Ash. We:
• sell kiln dried Red and White Oak in 4/4 through 8/4 thicknesses; Poplar
in 4/4 through 12/4 thicknesses; Ash in 4/4 through 8/4 thicknesses;
and Hickory in 4/4 and 6/4 thicknesses. The grades of lumber we sell are
No. 2 Common and better.
• have 800,000 board feet per charge of dry kiln capacity counting our new
predryer/dry kiln and five dry kilns. We also have two fan sheds totaling
500 MBF capacity.
• have dedicated employees with many years of experience who are getting
your orders prepared to your exact specifications.
• inspect our lumber after kiln drying.
• offer many services like export prep, mixed truckloads, container loading,
dipping our lumber in ISK Biocides’ chemicals, S2S, SLR1E, and width
sorting.
• process and sell 18 to 20 million board feet a year of the lumber
species we deal in.
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News February/March 2018 Page 23