National Hardwood Magazine - May 2022

HMA PHOTO Continued Ian

HMA PHOTO Continued Ian Faight, Hardwood Manufacturers Association, Warrendale, PA; and Anita Howard and Michael Martin, National Wood Flooring Association, Chesterfield, MO Keep Up With The Latest Industry News nationalhardwoodmag.com LAKE STATES Continued from page 10 His sales are split 50-50 between distribution yards and end users. He said his customers are “not struggling” in their businesses. “Their sales are pretty good. Supply and labor are their two biggest issues.” Escalating prices for transportation are a problem, he observed. However, availability is OK, he said. His company can get its product delivered in a timely manner, he stated. A problem, he said, is “producing enough lumber, fast enough.” A Wisconsin lumber provider said his market is “very good. That assessment is based on the fact that everything is moving, and most prices are good.” The market is about the same as it was six months earlier, he stated. “It’s been very good all along.” He handles Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Basswood, Aspen, Ash, Cherry and Hickory. “The Maples, Basswood and Aspen are the best sellers,” he noted. He offers No. 3 and Better, mainly 4/4 and 5/4. This lumberman sells his product to distribution yards and end users, more to end users. “I think their sales are going fantastic,” he said. The exception to that, he has seen, is that they could use more employees. “For the most part,” he stated, “domestic transportation is good. In exporting, it’s been hard to get containers.” In Indiana, a lumber contact said his market is “pretty solid. Prices are good. Things are going well. The market is not crazy-hot,” he said, “but product is moving steadily.” Compared to a few months earlier, “It’s pretty similar,” he observed. However, “I think shipping was better a few months ago.” He offers White Oak, Hickory, Basswood, Cherry, Hard and Soft Maple, Walnut and some Ash. “The hot ones are rift and quartered White Oak, Walnut, rustic White Oak, Cherry and Hickory,” he stated. His biggest customer category is distribution yards. “But we also sell to end users,” he remarked. The majority of his sales are domestic, but they do export. As for his customers’ well-being business-wise, “I haven’t heard anything negative about their sales,” he said. Transportation “could definitely be better,” he said. “Getting enough trucks to haul it all is what we’re fighting.” n NORTHEAST Continued from page 10 companies and it’s a nightmare. But also, of course we can’t invoice unless we ship it, so there’s a cash flow thing, as well.” As a result, storage space is becoming an issue. “We have 40-50 loads ready to go, but we can’t get the trucks, which means we’re running out of space at the mill,” he said. Other sources had similar stories, with numbers ranging from 30 to 50 loads sitting around, waiting to be transported. A sales and marketing manager for a Maine-based sawmill reiterated that the frustration is being felt by end users, as well. “Our end users are primarily flooring and cabinet manufacturers,” he explained, “and they consistently talk about having backlogs. Between gas prices and inflation, no one really knows how this will all play out.” Many are embracing a wait-and-see outlook while they find ways to adapt. One sales manager for a New York lumber yard noted, “We’re having to rethink our delivery options on an almost daily basis. The demand for truck drivers is high and they’re just a dying breed. The economic climate, in general, with regard to fuel and transportation issues – that’s a make-or-break factor with many people in the lumber business right now. We’re just waiting to see what will happen.” She added that the rising costs are not just affecting logistics. They’re also affecting every element of the lumber business, from the logger incurring extra fuel ex- Please turn the page PATENTED MAXIMUM AIR FLOW DESIGN Sure-grip, anti-slip corrugated surface Angled design clears moisture more efficiently vs. straight fluted sticks Removes moisture, decreases dry time and increases drying quality “Often Imitated, Never Duplicated” Improved Yard Safety, Increased Drying Efficiency & Reduced Drying Costs Trusted quality & service for 20+ years Discounts for program customers 20 + MILLION SOLD LUMBER DRYING STICKS •STICKS & CROSSERS •STANDARD & CUSTOM SIZES Dependable•Durable•Long Lasting The Company that Defeated Sticker Stain 519.842.6841 | info@breezedried.com We Also Buy Lumber ! breezedried.com 56 MAY 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE MAY 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 57