National Hardwood Magazine - December 2022

U.S.A. TRENDS Supplier

U.S.A. TRENDS Supplier news about sales, labor, prices, trends, expansions and inventories LAKE STATES In the Lake States, lumber providers are facing challenges. Some lumbermen are doing well, despite the difficulties. One of them said, “I think things are just fine.” In the case of another lumber provider, it’s not going so well. In Indiana, one lumber representative said, “The RV industry has pretty much collapsed. They are now 20 percent of our business. We’ve seen that become about nonexistent. On the other hand, big cabinet manufacturers are still running very strong. When the RV industry declined, enough sales were added from cabinetry that we didn’t notice the RV decline. In the market, people don’t have as big of an urgency to buy as they once had. Do I think it’s OK? Yes, I think it will be better than OK. We will continue to move to different types of customers. Meanwhile, the lumber supply is extremely good. Prices are going down. I think things are just fine.” Still, he added, “It’s definitely slowed down from what it was.” He sells Hard and Soft Maple in No. 2 Common, all 4/4. NORTHEAST Across the Northeast region sources said, at the time of this writing, that the market hasn’t been doing well, and they are worried about where the market will land once it starts to level out. In Pennsylvania, a sawmill representative said that the market is proving to be very challenging right now, and that it’s worse than it was six months ago. “A combination of factors is making it challenging, like it always is. The market overheated and it hasn’t found its new footing for where it will be moving forward. We are scrambling and I’m not sure where it’s going to settle out,” he said. He said his sawmill produces Hard and Soft Maple, Cherry, Red and White Oak, Ash, Yellow Poplar, as well as a little bit of odd species, in thicknesses that range from 4/4 through 12/4 in No. 3 Common to FAS and everything in between. His company sells to a variety of customers, including distribution yards, end-use manufacturers, and occasionally to traders. They also sell locally to smaller users that buy smaller lots, less than a truckload. Of the com- Please turn to page 43 Please turn to page 43 SOUTHEAST Across the Southeast, sources unanimously said that the market is much slower than it was six months ago. Many of the sources point towards inflation and rising interest rates for some of the reasons that the market has slowed. A lumber spokeswoman in Arkansas said that the market has slowed down not just in the Southeast, at the time of this writing, but all over the country. She said that the slowing down of the market for her company is due to less housing starts, and inflation causing the economy to be in limbo. “It’s significantly worse than it was six months ago, but I am optimistic that it will bounce back,” she said. Her company handles all domestic species, including Red and White Oak, Hickory, Maple, Walnut and American Cherry. They sell these species in 3/4 solid unfinished and 5/8 unfinished engineered. She noted that they also use the basic NOFMA system and have Select and Clear Select No. 2 Common. She also said that all species, in all grades and thicknesses, are currently selling at around the same rate. CRAFTMANSHIP ISN’T DEAD. IT’S HIDING IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. # 2 WEST COAST Sales of Hardwood lumber are not going great guns on the West Coast, but lumber is still moving. An Oregon lumberman stated, “The market has been steady. We are seeing prices drop. So, that’s the challenge: No one wants to get stuck with high-dollar inventory. I think the key is: we were fighting for product in the past and then like a light switch, a month ago, people want to sell us lots of lumber. All of a sudden, lumber is available, and prices are going down. We don’t get hurt too much on lumber prices since we have our own mill. So, we’re more versatile. But we’re anticipating prices to come down. “The market has held over the past several months,” he remarked. “We haven’t seen a big drop-off. We add a lot of value to what we’re selling, and we have our own trucks. Those two things have been advantageous for us in the market.” He offers all North American Hardwoods and some exotics. Poplar is still number one for him, he noted. He sells higher ends such as FAS and Select and Better. Please turn to page 46 Please turn to page 46 CRAFTMANSHIP ISN’T DEAD. IT’S HIDING IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. BINGAMANLUMBER.COM PO Box 247, Kreamer, PA 17833 ☎ 570.374.1108 | 570.374.5341 615-740-5100 WWW.MIDTNLUMBER.COM 8 DECEMBER 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE www.RealAmericanHardwood.org www.RealAmericanHardwood.org DECEMBER 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 9