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Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from June 19, 2026

Surveys of Appalachian sawmills this week indicate log supplies are level to slightly lower, while green lumber sales are flat to slower. Reports of kiln dried lumber sales are split equally between slow, fair, and good. Collectively, these responses reflect the “mixed bag” and “nothing too exciting” descriptions contacts have of current market conditions. Some lumber sellers report no issues getting their asking prices, while others are adjusting them as needed to keep production moving. Relatively few changes to the Appalachian price matrices indicate supply and demand are generally aligned. For items where imbalances exist, information lifts more figures than it lowers this week.

ASH

The marketplace is readily absorbing developing green Ash at prices centered on the #2A&Btr listings in all thicknesses. Demand for kiln dried Ash is fair, with contacts reporting steady shipments to regular customers, mainly in Asia and Europe. Exports to most Middle Eastern destinations are on hold. Observed and reported prices hold all kiln dried figures steady.

BASSWOOD

Area sawmills are not cutting much Basswood, instead focusing on species that move in larger volumes. Supply shortages relative to limited demand drive gains to the kiln dried 4/4 #2A&Btr and 5/4 #1C&Btr Basswood listings and most ranges.

BEECH

This species is not heavily produced in the Appalachian region, but there is modest ongoing demand. Information shows supply-driven price pressures that lift the green 4/4 #1C&Btr Beech listings.

CHERRY

Sawmill operations are moving green Cherry production with relative ease to concentration yards that are working to bolster in-process inventories for export to China. Energy is strongest for Fas&1f in the North Central area, and all 4/4 through 8/4 listings advance. Most dry-side changes also occur in the North Central, with reports warranting increases to the 5/4 #1C listings and all 4/4 and 5/4 #2A figures. The only changes in the Appalachian region raise the listings for 5/4 Fas.

HICKORY

Despite warming temperatures, residential flooring manufacturers—responding to brisk sales of Hickory flooring—issued 5% to 10% more purchase orders for green Hickory in June than in May. Meanwhile, kiln dried 4/4 Hickory is moving well in all grades. Upward price pressure is only evident for green 4/4 Fas&1f this week, however, and the listings edge higher.

HARD MAPLE

Demand for Hard Maple has slowed, which is reflected in a negative shift in comments from market participants. One producer noted inventory growth because his kiln dried sales have “fallen off a cliff.” Another described kiln dried Fas as nearly unsellable. Declines in prior weeks have all the kiln dried figures in order in both color sorts. The impact of production declines amid low demand is evident in reported green 5/4 Fas&1f prices, with the #1&2 White and Unselected listings both rising.

SOFT MAPLE

This species has been the stronger of the two Maples, but the gap is closing amid lower interest in Soft Maple. Contacts point out softening markets for green 4/4 Fas&1f, in particular, and the listings are lowered for each color sort. Downward pressure is similarly evident in kiln dried 4/4 Fas prices, prompting reductions to the listings and low-end ranges in each color classification. The low-end ranges for 8/4 Fas also retreat in both color designations.

#2&3A OAK

Overall lumber purchases by truck trailer flooring manufacturers have increased in June, on the strength of somewhat higher demand for finished goods. This upturn is offsetting static purchasing activity by some residential flooring plants and notably slower buying for others. Purchasing trends in June are similar for Red Oak and White Oak. No changes are required to any #2A&3A or #2A Alone Red Oak or White Oak listing.

RED OAK

Decent volumes of Red Oak logs and lumber are moving through the supply stream. Green production is mostly adequate for the market’s needs. Pricing data obtained this week warrant small bumps to the 6/4 Fas&1f listings and an equally small reduction for 8/4 #1C. Markets for kiln dried Red Oak are decent and slightly better for #1C&Btr than for #2A, though #2A still moves. Transactions for kiln dried 4/4 Fas show an upward bias that raises the listings $30 in this edition. Reported prices for other Red Oak items land at or near the listings or within the published ranges.

WHITE OAK

One producer reports no issues getting his list price for kiln dried 4/4 Fas White Oak, which is near the high end of the published range. “I also have several purchase orders for 8/4 Fas, and I’m able to move a few packs of 8-foot uppers with every order,” he said. Overall, the large spreads between the highest and lowest reported kiln dried Fas prices are reflective of a market that has been oversupplied amid reasonably steady demand. Price reductions have been necessary to generate interest in a competitive marketplace, but the magnitude of reductions has been considerably larger for some producers than others. Signs that supply and demand for most White Oak items are nearing equilibrium continue. The only changes this week lower the high-end ranges for 8/4 Fas.

POPLAR

Domestic demand for Poplar is mostly steady, led by the moulding/millwork sector. The #1C&Btr grades also move well to distribution yards that, in turn, are having no issues moving them to their customers. Shipments of Poplar to Vietnam, which are heavy to #1C and #2A, climbed 28% year over year through April. However, Poplar exports to China fell 38% year over year through April. This after a 47% year-over-year decline during the same stretch in 2025 relative to 2024, due to the combined impact of the US-China tariff fight and faltering Chinese housing market. Poplar lumber availability increased in May, with ample log supplies spurring production. Markets struggled to absorb the additional output, prompting erosion in Fas&1f prices across most thicknesses. Supply and demand are now more closely aligned. All the green listings are unchanged this week, and the only kiln dried changes widen the ranges for 6/4 #1C.

WALNUT

Monthly US exports of Walnut logs trended sharply higher the first four months of 2026, setting records for each respective month and culminating in a one-month record of 17.6 million board feet (MMBF) in April. Official data erroneously show exports of nearly 46 MMBF in January 1981, which is exponentially higher than any month in that period. Domestic demand for Walnut lumber is steady, as is interest from Chinese buyers, whereas shipments to Canada and Vietnam have registered sizeable gains this year. Prices in observed business keep all the green and kiln dried listings and ranges in check.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Solid hardwood framestock continues to face headwinds amid the prevalence of sheet goods in upholstered furniture. Limited framestock production aligns with limited demand, keeping the ranges for framestock intact.

Demand for cants is decent from the pallet sector. Reported cant prices show upward momentum, even from certain buyers whose purchase prices rarely budge. This suggests stronger competition from other industrial markets, or reduced production at sawmills still operating and several that have ceased operations. The latter explanation is more feasible than the former. Information is sufficient to raise the cant listing and range.

Contacts report flat-to-slower demand for crossties. Treaters are approaching purchases cautiously, as most have larger-than-desired inventories and lackluster black tie sales. No changes are warranted to the ranges.

Board road markets don’t have much energy in the Appalachian region, compared with reports of decent or improving demand in the Northern and Southern regions, due partly to usage during the construction of new data centers. While data center construction is planned in some states within the Appalachian lumber producing region, most new data centers under various stages of construction are occurring in the South, Midwest, and West, according to the Pew Research Center.

International Comments

GENERAL

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