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Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from September 18, 2026.

Hardwood sawmill production in the Appalachian region rose 6% in August from July, matching the increase in the South but lagging 12% expansion in the North, according to estimates by HMR/Fastmarkets. Total production across the Eastern hardwood producing region advanced 7.4%, supported by one additional working day in August than in July, and nudging up the annualized pace of production through August to 4.083 billion board feet.

Log supplies are level-to-lower, while contacts report flat-to-slower green and kiln dried lumber sales. Chinese demand is weak, according to all Appalachian survey responses over the last two weeks. “The last of the high-cost stocks have arrived at Asian ports,” said one exporter, adding, “Many manufacturers are left holding lumber inventories as their production has slowed.” Meanwhile, demand from the pallet sector for cants and pallet lumber remains quite good.

ASH

Market conditions for Appalachian Ash are favorable, from a producer’s perspective, due to the diminishing supply of healthy Ash trees across the region. Mills sawing Ash logs from pockets not heavily impacted by the Emerald Ash Borer are having no trouble moving their full production. Previous adjustments have most of the green listings in order. The only change lowers the listing for 8/4 #1C by $10 per thousand board feet ($/MBF). Kiln dried Ash is moving well, mainly for export to China. Prices gathered this week keep all the listings and ranges in check.

BASSWOOD

Basswood activity tends to increase when window blind and shutter producers are busy, or when Poplar becomes tougher to procure, because the former is a substitute for the latter. Neither of these circumstances is evident at the present time. Basswood sales are sluggish. However, production of the species has been low for an extended period, keeping inventories manageable. No changes are warranted to any green or kiln dried prices.

BEECH

CHERRY

The relative ease with which sawmill operations were moving green Cherry months ago has downshifted, coinciding with concentration yards reducing purchases in response to declining demand from China. Cherry exports to China slowed for a fourth consecutive month in July after peaking for the year in March. Green production is falling alongside lower demand in each producing subregion. On the dry side, excess supply relative to slower demand is still evident for 5/4 through 8/4 #1C in the North Central subregion, prompting reductions to those listings as well as the low-end ranges for 6/4 #1C.

HICKORY

Kiln dried Hickory is moving well in all grades and across most characteristics and specifications, including Rustic and Calico. Reported prices are sufficient to raise the 4/4 #1C&Btr ranges and all #2A figures. Purchases of green Hickory by residential flooring plants haven’t shown signs of slowing. Concentration yards are also in the market for decent quantities. Information lifts the listings for 4/4 through 8/4 #2B again this week, continuing the upward trend that began the third week of August.

HARD MAPLE

While this species is moving slowly for most Appalachian producers, it has appeared less frequently of late on sellers’ lists of worst-moving items. Still, downward price pressure is noted for green Hard Maple this week, driving decreases to the 5/4 through 8/4 #1C&Btr listings in each color sort. The listing for #1&2 White 4/4 #1C is also reduced. Lower reported prices are prevalent for kiln dried 4/4 and 5/4 Hard Maple, with reductions warranted to the listings and noted ranges for 4/4 Fas, 5/4 Fas, and 4/4 #2A in both color classifications. Reported prices for 6/4 #1C have a clear upward bias, however, with scarcity outweighing limited demand; the #1&2 White and Unselected listings and ranges are raised accordingly.

SOFT MAPLE

Supplies of this species have become more closely aligned with tepid demand, halting downward price movement for green items this week. Markets are absorbing most kiln dried production, with sales reportedly stronger for #1C&Btr than for #2A, according to survey respondents. Reductions to the 8/4 #2A listings and ranges in each color sort result from weak demand, whereas the high-end ranges for Sap&Btr 6/4 Fas climb, mostly due to lack of supply.

#2&3A OAK

Procuring adequate volumes of green #2A&3A Oak has not been an issue for most residential flooring manufacturers. Some are increasing Red Oak purchases to better align raw material inventories with demand for the strongest-selling finished goods, mainly No. 1Com Red Oak flooring. Purchase order volumes for some truck trailer flooring operations have varied during 2026, but current inventories are at desired levels at most plants. Reported and observed prices for #2A&3A Red Oak and White Oak, and for #2A Alone Red Oak, are steady, warranting no changes to any listings this week.

RED OAK

Demand for kiln dried Red Oak is not particularly good from domestic secondary wood products manufacturers, many of whom are only placing orders for just-in-time delivery. Meanwhile, exporters are experiencing slower sales and downward price pressure for #1C&Btr to China. Elevated freight costs and diminished shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resulting from the US-Iran war continue to impact sales of thicker-stock Red Oak to the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). Items that would otherwise ship to MENA at regular intervals are instead going to China or other markets at reduced prices. The listings for 6/4 Fas are lowered. Green Red Oak supplies are meeting the market’s needs, and all the listings stand pat.

WHITE OAK

Markets for green and kiln dried White Oak are mostly stable, with domestic and export demand generally aligned with supplies. Reported prices did not shift much this week, resulting in few changes to the published figures. Only the kiln dried 5/4 Fas range numbers and 5/4 #1C listings decline. Kiln dried Fas White Oak sales to Europe tend to increase after European vacations end in August. Thus far, through mid-September, contacts continue to report flat-to-slow demand from the region’s largest markets.

POPLAR

Supplies of most green Poplar items are meeting the market’s needs. That is not necessarily the case for 4/4 and 5/4 Fas&1f, supplies of which have tightened in the last 30 to 45 days. Higher observed prices prompt $15/MBF gains to those listings. Domestic demand for kiln dried Poplar is decent, but interest from Asian markets lags exporters’ expectations. Lower reported prices drive reductions to the 8/4 #1C&Btr listings.

WALNUT

Green Walnut prices gathered this week align with those of prior weeks, allowing all the listings to stand. One kiln dried Walnut producer notes good demand across all grades and thicknesses, while others report higher demand for #1C and #2A than for Fas. Incoming prices warrant reductions to the listings and high-end ranges for 4/4 Fas and the listings for 5/4 #2A. US exports of Walnut logs in July were the second lowest for any month to that point in 2026. Still, shipments were easily the highest for any July on record, rising 51% over July 2025.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Demand for Oak and Mixed Species framestock from upholstered furniture markets is low. Production is low, as well, allowing the Oak and Mixed Species framestock price ranges to stand.

The pallet market has energy. Manufacturers have adequate but not excessive hardwood raw material inventories and steady-to-stronger pallet sales. Mills are readily moving pallet cants. Observed and reported prices warrant gains to the cant listing and range.

Demand for 7x9 crossties hasn’t changed much since treating operations started managing inventories through quotas. As with the other regions, mills that saw ties in the Appalachian region are awaiting the results of railroad mergers and the subsequent impact on the number of ties needed for infrastructure construction and repair projects. The 7x9 crosstie ranges hold steady in both subregions.

No meaningful changes are evident in demand for board road, which has been the case throughout most of this year. Reported prices keep the listing and range intact.

International Comments

GENERAL

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