National Hardwood Magazine - August 2021

ONTARIO CANADIAN TRENDS

ONTARIO CANADIAN TRENDS News from suppliers about prices, trends, sales and inventories There were the usual slowdowns due to vacation periods and the July 1st Canada Day celebrations over the early part of summer. The province started to ease restrictions and businesses reopened to return to a more normal way of life. With vaccines being delivered and inoculation numbers rising, people were more hopeful of seeing an end to the COVID-19 pandemic in the near future. Contacts in the industry felt cautiously optimistic for a better fall season. Contacts noted that there were more logs available to sawmills, but production had not increased significantly from spring through summer. There is still the struggle of getting qualified workers in the industry to boost production and meet demand. Some contacts noted that kiln-dried sales are good, while green sales were fair to good. Most species are performing well. There is still a high demand for Hard and Soft Maple, Walnut and White Oak, with demand outpacing production. It was noted that the industrial markets were strong. Ash is selling well on international and domestic markets, but sales have abated since the beginning of the year. Wholesalers note that their kiln-dried inventories are thin, with higher prices being noted. Green Ash production is low, they add. Consumers are still demanding Hard and Soft Maple, so the push is to produce as much of these two species as possible. Aspen production has not seen a rise in demand, even though there was ample supply of this species. However, it is reported there is demand for it in the traditional and new markets. Basswood production has also seen a slowdown due to sawmilling of other species such as Hard and Soft Maple. However, with warm weather conditions, whitewood log decks must be renewed on a regular basis, which includes Basswood. Volumes are low for this species, with demand outpacing supply. Kiln-dried Basswood markets are good with inventories thin for most grades and thicknesses. Business is best for the upper grades, with prices seeing some gains. Demand for Birch relies heavily on Canadian and U.S. QUEBEC The COVID-19 restrictions across the province are slowly being lifted and businesses are gradually reopening and getting back to a semblance of normal. The economy is doing better than expected, and with new home construction and renovation markets still on a high, it is very favorable news for the Hardwood industry. The Chinese market is still a bit slow, but the domestic market is doing well, as well as other export markets. Industry is trying to respond to the increased demand, however labor shortages are impeding the progress. It is reported that there are some gaps in supplies for some species while others are doing very well. Ash sales to end users and wholesalers are good, while purchases from China have moderated for this species. Demand from other export markets are balancing this out. Prices were noted as having risen slightly. Demand for Cherry from China had increased in late spring, but has since seen a slight slowdown. Those who export are adding incentives with modest price concessions to boost sales. Demand on the domestic front is steady due to residential construction. Flooring manufacturers have reduced their Hickory demand, even though flooring sales remain active. Contacts say they have ample inventories. There is also a decent demand from millwork, moulding and cabinet manufacturers, and the export market is also faring well, noted contacts. The regionally important Hard Maple species is still in great demand. However, the gap between supply and demand has not decreased, as it has for other species. Sawmills are producing as much Hard Maple as possible and as logs are available, but it is still not enough to supply secondary manufacturers and wholesalers, resulting in climbing prices. Soft Maple sales reports are positive as well, with upper grades going to cabinet, furniture and moulding companies. Demand from residential wood and truck trailer flooring manufacturers are keeping the Red and White Oak markets high. They are struggling to get additional volumes Please turn to page 48 Please turn to page 49 RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE NOW FOR THE 51 ST EDITION OF THE HARDWOOD PURCHASING HANDBOOK 4,000 COPIES ARE SENT TO BUYERS OF 100,000 BOARD FEET OR MORE… Such as manufacturers of: Kitchen Cabinets • Furniture • Hardwood Flooring • Millwork As well as…Distribution/Concentration Yards and Exporters of Hardwood Lumber Atlanta Hardwood Corp./ AHC Huntersville Allegheny Wood Products, Inc. American Lumber Company Baillie Lumber Company Banks Hardwoods, Inc. Bingaman & Son Lumber, Inc. M. 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Hardwood Purchasing Handbook Fiftieth Edition/2021 Featuring HARDWOOD: • Lumber Manufacturers • Wholesale Suppliers • Distribution Yard • Phone, Fax, Email • Plywood Suppliers and Web Page Directory (See Contents Page 4) Somerset Wood Products, Inc. Stoltzfus Forest Products LLC Tropical Forest Products Wagner Lumber Company, Inc. Wheeland Lumber Co., Inc. York Legacy Mill, Inc. Full Page: ,150 • 1/2 Page: ,700 Color Additional Note: All advertisers must carry a position in the Christmas Buyer’s Guide Issue of National Hardwood Magazine to reserve space in the Hardwood Purchasing Handbook. 5.00 US/CN 5.00 FOREIGN For more information call 1-800-844-1280 or email hph@millerwoodtradepub.com. 50th HARDWOOD PURCHASING HANDBOOK 2021 www.hardwoodpurchasinghdbk.com Carl Rosenberry & Sons Lumber, Inc. Celebrating 100 Years! Since 1920, Carl Rosenberry & Sons Lumber, Inc. has been producing the finest Pennsylvania Hardwoods for three generations. We are located in a small valley nestled in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. Our tree length harvesting and milling system allows us to cut our logs to length inside the mill permitting us to maximize yield, and cut specific lengths requested by our customers – ranging from 4’ to 16’, at a production rate of 35,000 BF a day. We have a kiln capacity of 350,000 BF with one million feet of dry storage and one million feet of air-dried and green storage area. All lumber is graded after kiln drying. We offer S2S and width sorted lumber for your specific needs. www.rosenberrylumber.com 10 AUGUST 2021 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 2021 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 11