National Hardwood Magazine - May 2022

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 In the Lake States region, lumbermen who were contacted reported that their markets were strong. In Michigan, a lumber source said that, “based on general inquiries, backed-up orders and sales, our market is still pretty strong.” It’s “a little better” than it was several months ago, he added. His best-selling species include Hard and Soft Maple, White Oak and Hickory. Hard and Soft Maple are both “hot,” he noted. He also offers Red Oak, Walnut and Cherry. Hardwood markets continue to be robust throughout the Northeast region, with one source stating it is “almost too good.” “The problem is not selling,” he explained, “it’s being able to deliver. Whether it’s dealing with containers or trucks, the problem is logistics.” As a senior sales manager for a Connecticut-based sawmill, he expressed the frustration involved with having the lumber ready but not being able to move it. “We have our own trucks, which helps, but we still need to work with third-party trucking As Hardwood sales remain strong in the Southeast, industry sources in the region continue to look for ways to adapt to the current economic climate. “The market is very much mixed,” noted one sales manager for a sawmill located in Alabama. “A lot of mills have logs, and some are scared to hold inventory or not hold inventory. Everybody’s doing something different.” He explained that there are noticeable fluctuations related to species, as some prices are holding from six months ago while others are falling, depending on the Lumber providers on the West Coast who were contacted gave positive assessments of their markets. One distributor put it this way: Inflation, especially fuel costs, is a problem. “It’s a stable market,” he continued. “But my concern is, if we have many more of these runups in costs, is it going to go the other way? The cost of materials to build homes is up, the 30-year mortgage rate is up, and we’d love to grow our business, but getting employees has been very difficult. There’s a lot going on. And in spite of all that, we’re still successful.” Please turn to page 56 Please turn to page 57 Please turn to page 58 Please turn to page 60 New River Hardwoods, Inc. QUALITY from start to finish! 倀 䰀 䄀 夀 夀 伀 唀 刀 䌀 䄀 刀 䐀 匀 刀 䤀 䜀 䠀 吀 ● Three Appalachian Hardwood Sawmills producing 35MMBF of lumber annually ● 400,000 board feet of kiln capacity drying 12MMBF of lumber annually ● Ripped and moulded products customized to meet each customer’s needs ● Straight line ripped and sanded products also available 䰀 攀 琀 䄀 戀 攀 渀 愀 欀 椀 猀 琀 愀 挀 欀 琀 栀 攀 搀 攀 挀 欀 椀 渀 礀 漀 甀 爀 昀 愀 瘀 漀 爀 ⸀ 一 漀 眀 漀 昀 昀 攀 爀 椀 渀 最 匀 琀 攀 愀 洀 攀 搀 䔀 甀 爀 漀 瀀 攀 愀 渀 䈀 攀 攀 挀 栀 Species: Poplar, Red Oak, White Oak, Soft Maple, Hard Maple, Cherry, Basswood and Hickory Mark Pierce Sales and Purchasing Office: 336-889-0870 Cell: 336-858-2707 Email: mpierce@newriverhardwoods.com 4343 Highway 91 Mountain City, TN 37683 Phone: (423) 727-4019 Fax: (423) 727-4438 www.newriverhardwoods.com 10 MAY 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE MAY 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 11