National Hardwood Magazine - May 2021

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 Sales of Hardwood lumber in the Lake States are strong, even “crazy”-strong, according to one source. A Michigan lumber provider said his market is “extremely busy. Since the turn of the year, it’s probably crazier than I’ve ever seen it. “The market was good six months ago,” he stated. “It’s better than it was then.” Products he sells are Hard and Soft Maple, Red and White Oak, Hickory, Walnut and Cherry. “They’re all pretty hot,” he pointed out. “Hard Maple’s probably the craziest. All the other ones are good.” Half of his customers are end users and the other half are distribution yards. “They all say they’re busy, The Hardwood lumber markets in the Northeast are strong, but, as has been the case for some time, product is hard to find. For example, a lumber provider in Pennsylvania said, “There’s not enough lumber of any kind in the system in our area. It’s just a shortage situation.” Nevertheless, he assessed the market is far better than several months ago. He stated that demand is high. This lumberman handles Cherry, Hard and Soft Maple, Ash, Red and White Oak and Yellow Poplar. “I would say that if we had more of any specie, it would very quickly sell out,” he noted. “There’s nothing that people aren’t asking us for, and there’s nothing we’re Sales of Hardwood lumber in the Southeast are strong, with prices at a high level – but one lumber provider is feeling some pushback from his customers against those prices. A Mississippi lumberman stated, “The market has been crazy, as other people have certainly said. Prices have been going up, but recently, I’m seeing a trend that folks are kind of pushing back on prices a little bit. The market may be readjusting a little bit since it took off like it did. We’re starting to see some changes along those lines. I think people, pretty much across the board, are starting to push back on higher prices, from what we see. “Our sales are better than several months ago,” he The Hardwood markets on the West Coast are encouraging – but not without problems. In California, a source said the market is “pretty strong. We can’t get enough wood; shipping is a problem; and prices are going up, but the demand is still there.” The market dynamics are similar to several months ago, he remarked. He sells about 80 different species of lumber. Poplar, White Oak and Walnut are his best sellers. Thicknesses range from 4/4 to 16/4 and grades are mostly uppers, Select and Better and No. 1 FAS. His customers are mostly end users: cabinet shops, furniture makers and trim manufacturers. “Residential Please turn to page 41 Please turn to page 43 Please turn to page 44 Please turn to page 45 Kiln SticKS GW INDUSTRIES Importer and Distributor of Tropical Hardwood Kiln Sticks Greenwood Imports LLC Select No. 1 grade kiln sticks http://gwi.us.com/tropical-kiln-sticks • Industry Leading Kiln Controls www.nyle.com - kilnsales@nyle.com - (800) 777-6953 • Installation Services & Turn-Key Packages Flat Profile Fluted Profile Leading the Industry as stocking distributors of imported hardwood kiln sticks with a reputation for consistent grade, reliable shipments and stable cost for over 35-years. Dennis Krueger 866-771-5040 greenwoodimportsllc@gmail.com Jackie Paolo 866-504-9095 jackie@gwi.us.com 8 MAY 2021 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE MAY 2021 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 9