National Hardwood Magazine - February 2024

SWHMC Meeting Attendees

SWHMC Meeting Attendees Share Insights About Market Conditions Photos By Terry Miller The Southwestern Hardwood Manufacturers Club (SWHMC) Christmas meeting at The Grand Hotel, Point Clear, AL, was reported as a great meeting despite seasonal rainfall. Attendance was good. The roundtable discussion was informative as well. Generally, attendees reported that sales are down overall and log supplies are really good for the most part. Cross tie and switch tie production is still the primary focus right now with a hope that there will be greater demand for grade lumber soon. As a reminder, SWHMC annual dues renew in January and will remain at ,000 per year. If you need an invoice for your dues, please let SWHMC know. SWHMC’s website was due to be updated by the time this issue of National Hardwood Magazine was published, so attendees could make dues payments via credit card on the website. SWHMC leadership is also working on a meeting possibly at Mississippi State University in Starkville and announced that they will get info out on that meeting as soon as the plans can be completed. To follow are comments from the Christmas meeting discussion: Mill and Lumber Market Information: Robinson Lumber Co.: Asian sales are down and Europe is in a recession. Domestic sales are comparatively good with high end, wide flooring moving well. Low end narrow flooring is very slow. Anticipating an erratic lumber market ahead during the election year, Wesley Robinson is in the process of implementing a “Wood Is Good” promotion featuring pictures and videos of Hardwood lumber and projects as well as interviews with lumber industry leaders. This is in the developmental stage and you will probably begin to see some of Wesley’s work in future months. Buchanan Hardwoods: Due to the weather, we have too many logs. Due to the market, too much lumber inventory and too much flooring inventory. Residuals are fast becoming a problem. We need relief! Netterville Lumber: Sawing a lot of ties! Also have about 4 million feet of Cypress and Ash logs because it has been so dry. Swamps are dry, making logging them too easy! All the lowland species are plentiful!! Sawing a lot of 8/4 Ash. All-Star Forest Products: Diversification is helping us. Millwork business is slowing but margins are really good. Lumber and plywood seem to have slowed down, but still there’s some activity. The election is going to have an impact for sure. Board road into Canada has picked up some, but domestic has slowed down. It’s still moving some, but not at the volumes we have seen earlier in the year. Frame stock has slowed down considerably and still not much demand for Oak frame. There is still demand for specialty products. The Cypress market is really good right now with upward pushes on prices. Rutland Lumber: Sawmill has plenty of logs and the mill is running good. Joey Childs and Leslie Rutland, Rutland Lumber Company, Collins, MS; Robyn Birdsong, Kitchens Lumber Company, Utica, MS; Scott Wesberry, Fred Netterville Lumber Company, Woodville, MS; and Tyler Walley, Rutland Lumber Company Jay Hanna, Woodus K. Humphrey, Shreveport, LA; Rick Hanna (retired), Hanna Manufacturing Company, Winnfield, LA; and Kevin Lammons, All Star Forest Products, Nashville, TN Craig Bilberry, Barefoot Lumber, Florence, MS; Bill Price, All Star Forest Products, Jackson, MS; and Bubba Lammons, All Star Forest Products, Fairhope, AL Bill Buchanan and Cheryl Buchanan, Buchanan Lumber and Hardwood Flooring, Aliceville, AL; Kellye Miller, National Hardwood Magazine, Memphis, TN; and Werner and Wesley Robinson, Robinson Lumber Company, New Orleans, LA Please turn to page 32 NORTHERN & APPALACHIAN HARDWOODS Wesley Robinson, Robinson Lumber Company, New Orleans, LA, and family with The Grinch. Wills Robinson, Charlie Robinson and Werner Robinson Rubin Shmulsky, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS; Wesley Robinson, and Toto Robinson, Robinson Lumber Company, New Orleans, LA; and Chad Smith, USNR, Hot Springs, AR [ WWW.SIMONLUSSIER.COM ] MARIO LUSSIER - General Manager mlussier@simonlussier.com 450.435.6591 - 16 BOUL. DE LA SEIGNEURIE EST, BLAINVILLE, QC CANADA J7C 3V5 30 FEBRUARY 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE www.RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry www.RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry FEBRUARY 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 31