National Hardwood Magazine - June 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 Lumbermen in the Lake States region had good things to say about their markets in recent interviews. “Our business activity seems to be going well,” said a lumber provider in Illinois. Compared to six months ago, his business is “a little better,” he remarked. “Prices were better overall six months ago, but some prices have gone up.” He sells Ash, Hard and Soft Maple, Walnut, Cherry, Hickory and Red and White Oak in 4/4 through 8/4. His best sellers are White Oak, Walnut and Ash. He sells his lumber mostly to distribution yards and some to end users, including flooring plants. “Sometimes,” he said, “we don’t hear from them about how their business is going, but what you do hear is good.” Asked about transportation, he replied, “Thank God, after two years of difficulty, transportation is good. We have a couple of big trucking companies we have been working with for three months, so it’s easier to get trucks.” A Wisconsin sawmill representative noted, “Business is slow, but we are able to move lumber on a regular basis. My Red and White Oak are selling well. However, some other species including Aspen and Basswood are slow movers now.” In fact, his business activity is not as good as it was several months ago, he stated. He offers Red and White Oak, Basswood, Hard and Soft Maple, Aspen, Cherry and Hickory mostly in 4/4, some 5/4 and No. 3 Common and Better. White Oak is moving best for him. He sells his lumber to both distribution yards and end users. “I’d say their sales to their customers are slower than normal. If they need lumber, they’ll call me, and if I don’t have it, they will call someone else. My sales to them are on a short notice basis. “We have no problem with transportation,” he added. Across the Northeast region there seems to be a mixed bag on how Hardwood lumber sales were varying, at the time of this writing. In Maine a sawmill representative said that his sales have been poor. “There is lack of demand, and there is over supply. I don’t think that sales will change for quite a while. As far as I can tell everyone is waiting to see what the summer brings and that is usually a quiet time, even in the best of markets,” he said. He noted that despite his sales being poor they are better than they were six months ago. “Lumber seems to be moving, but the pricing is a lot different than it was,” he continued. His company handles Hard and Soft Maple, Yellow Birch and Ash in all grades from pallet to prime and in thicknesses 4/4-8/4. He mentioned that Yellow Birch is selling the best for them right now. He said that his company sells to end users, such as furniture, kitchen cabinet and flooring manufacturers, as well as distribution yards, brokers and wholesalers, and pallet manufacturers and railway tie purchasing agents. “The distribution yards are busy, not as busy as they would like, but busy. The kitchen cabinet and flooring manufacturers are quiet. The brokers and wholesalers are somewhat busy, they are having to call around to find the best price. I’ve noticed the pallet manufacturers are slowing down and the railway tie buyers are clamoring for more ties,” he went on. When asked if he was having trouble with labor, he said that his mill will always have difficulties in that regard as his mill is in a remote part of the state. As for transportation he said that he is getting calls left and right from trucking companies looking for business. “We’ve been through this before and we’ll come out of it,” he remarked. Throughout the Southeast region there were mixed reviews as to how the market was faring, at the time of this writing. Some sources said that the market was extremely strong, while others have said that their sales were not doing well. An Arkansan lumber spokesperson said that his market seemed to be picking up. “It’s not because of how well the economy is doing, it’s due to the supply and demand,” he noted. “We are worse than we were six months ago due to inflation and interest rates. Lumber prices were better six months ago,” he added. His company handles rough green Red and White Oak, Gum and Hickory in all grades and in 1-inch and 5/4 thicknesses. “We sell to flooring and moulding manufacturers. They seem to be slow right now,” he remarked, adding that he thought that their lack of business was due to the high interest rates causing people to borrow less money. When asked if transportation was an issue, he said that it has gotten better than it was six months to a year ago. “Labor is still a day-to-day issue,” he remarked. In Alabama a lumberman said, “Our market isn’t so great right now. It’s hard to move lumber and the prices aren’t where they need to be. We are doing slightly better than we were six months ago though.” His company handles Red and White Oak, Poplar and Ash in grades FAS and No. 2 Common, as well as kilndried, in thicknesses 4/4-6/4. “I’ve seen an up-tick in 5/4 Red Oak FAS and White Oak FAS is still holding its own even though the price has dropped,” he noted. He said that his company sells to brokers, distribution yards and exports to China, Mexico and the UK. “Sales are slow in China but it’s slow basically everywhere,” he remarked. On the West Coast, sales of Hardwood lumber are not bad, based on recent interviews with lumbermen there. An Oregon supplier said business is still strong. “We have stayed pretty busy,” he noted. “Businesses in the area here are busy, too.” Compared to several months ago, the market for his company is better, he stated. He offers Walnut, White Oak and Maple in 4/4 through 12/4 in higher end grades. Walnut is his best seller, but Elm is popular, too. He sells his lumber to professional wood workers and end users, including people building high-end furniture or building restaurant or hotel interiors. “Their business is strong as well,” he commented. Transportation isn’t a problem for him. “We ship our lumber less than truckload,” he said. In Washington, a lumberman remarked, “Business has been quieting down for about two weeks. It’s been odd all year long. During COVID, the supply of lumber was constrained, so people kept a high lumber inventory in their shops. Now people are holding off buying lumber until they need it. It’s not hard to get lumber now. Higher end lumber is moving better. High-end Walnut and Ripped White Oak are in greater demand. For Walnut, I’m getting more inquiries, and the mill manufacturing our Walnut is doing well. Lumber is moving. Things are not dire.” However, he said that his business activity is worse than it was a few months earlier. He sells lumber in all thicknesses, mostly 4/4, in Select and Better, No. 1 Common and No. 2 Common. Species include Hard and Soft Maple, Poplar, Red and White Oak, Beech, Alder, Hickory and “any eastern Hardwoods.” His best sellers, he stated, are Poplar and paint-grade Soft Maple. His customers include both end users and distribution yards. Cabinet door manufacturers are doing well, he noted, but people making the cabinets are seeing Please turn to page 50 Please turn to page 51 Please turn to page 52 Please turn to page 52 8 JUNE 2023 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE www.RealAmericanHardwood.org www.RealAmericanHardwood.org JUNE 2023 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 9