National Hardwood Magazine - August 2023

U.S.A. TRENDS Supplier

U.S.A. TRENDS Supplier news about sales, labor, prices, trends, expansions and inventories LAKE STATES NORTHEAST SOUTHEAST WEST COAST Hardwood suppliers and wholesalers in the Lake States spoke of mixed business activity in recent weeks. Some products are moving better than others and yet some have no change in activity. Transportation is still among the bright spots for the Hardwood lumber suppliers in the region who are coming back from a deficit in trucking availability during the same time period last year. In Minnesota a Hardwood lumber supplier said activity is average, but slightly better than the prior month. The White Oak and Walnut supplier said his customers had mixed activity in recent weeks. “It really depends on who you talk to. Some of our customers are busy ordering out a ways while others are at a standstill,” he explained. The contact said while transportation availability is better, interest rates and housing starts were among his top concerns. Across the Northeast region sources agreed that the Hardwood lumber market has seen better days. In Maine, a sawmill spokesperson said that they were slow, at the time of this writing. “There is an uncertainty in the market right now, with no speculation or optimism,” he said. He noted that they are slower than they were six months ago, saying, “There was a bump right after the first of the year, but since then everything has been quiet, and we are slowing down even more now.” His sawmill handles Hard and Soft Maple, Yellow Birch and Ash in grades Prime FAS through pallet industrial and in thicknesses 4/4 through 8/4. He mentioned that Hard Maple is currently their best seller. He said that his sawmill sells to distribution yards, Please turn to page 55 Please turn to page 56 Across the Southeast lumber sources said that their sales have slowed. A North Carolinian lumberman said that his market was slow, at the time of this writing. “Our orders are very slow right now and I don’t see it picking up any time soon. We are doing worse than we were six months ago, and I don’t see any indication that we are going to get better any time soon,” he continued. His company handles Poplar and White Oak in 4/4 thickness and pine in 5/4 thickness and all of these species in all grades, separating out the FAS stock widths. “We have started to saw more pine than Hardwoods,” he said. “We have had to step away from Red Oak, but Poplar has continued to do alright for us. Poplar is a staple product of ours that we have always sawn. We do a lot of While Hardwood lumber suppliers on the West Coast report similar activity to the previous month, logistics have notably improved for many. In Oregon, a Hardwood lumber supplier said, “We’re involved in many different product lines and activity varies from product line to line. Overall our business is steady. Our customers are spotty. It runs the gamut. A lot of people are discouraged but there are some signs of good stuff as well.” When asked which products are moving better than the others he said, “Everything is about the same right now, just steady.” Looking ahead the contact said he predicts further softening of the market. “The cost of imports has dropped massively over the last six months. But people did not sell off their inventory positions fast enough. That Please turn to page 57 Please turn to page 58 E A G L E SCANNING Scanning for: Ripping, Crosscut, Optimizing & Grade YOUR SINGLE SOURCE SYSTEMS INTEGRATOR FOR ALL OF YOUR SOLID WOOD PROCESSING Industries We Serve: • Flooring (Solid, Engineered, Trailer) • Furniture • Custom Millwork • Cabinetry • Mouldings • Doors • Windows • Stair Parts P A R T N E R S PLANING The Patented Self-Centering Planer 18”, 24”, 32” input Located in Sugarcreek, Ohio www.eaglemachines.com 422 Dutch Valley Dr. NE 44681 Call us at (330) 852-1300 CROSSCUTTING Talon 1000, 2000 & 3000 Crosscut Saws RIPPING Straitline Moveable Arbor Ripsaw SCANNING + CUTTING EagleEye TalonVision Saw The Ultimate Solution for Wood Flooring Industry Leading Speed & Accuracy Glue Line Ripping Also: Fixed Arbor 6 AUGUST 2023 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry AUGUST 2023 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 7