Appalachian Comments

CHERRY

Chinese demand for kiln dried Cherry is good across several grades and thicknesses, including more momentum for stock produced in the Appalachian subregion. Prices are responding, driving gains to the 4/4 #2A&Btr, 5/4 #1C&Btr, 6/4 Fas, and 8/4 Fas figures. The North Central 4/4 Fas ranges and both the listings and low ends of the ranges for 6/4 Fas also edge up. Concentration yards are readily absorbing developing green Cherry production, mostly for export to China. Prices in observed business raise the North Central 4/4 Fas&1f listings and hold all the other listings steady.

HARD MAPLE

Comments by sellers describe somewhat unfavorable market conditions for Hard Maple, including one producer who said: “There’s not much movement; accordingly, we aren’t doing much.” Green upper-grade prices are losing momentum after a short period of stability, resulting in decreases to the listings for 4/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f in both color designations. The listings for 4/4 #2A are also reduced in both color sorts. Kiln dried inventories have contracted and are aligned with slower demand. Transactions point out steady kiln dried prices across all grades, thicknesses, and color classifications.

SOFT MAPLE

Most survey respondents state demand is stronger for Soft Maple than for Hard Maple; several indicate Soft Maple is among the best-moving species. Mills have been expediting processing of this and other whitewoods to guard against potential stain. Markets are absorbing most green items at prices consistent with the listings, though concessions are sometimes necessary to generate orders for the common grades. The Sap&Btr 4/4 #1C listing is reduced but maintains a healthy spread over its Unselected counterpart. Prices in observed kiln dried business are holding steady at the listings or within the ranges, whether for Sap&Btr or Unselected.

RED OAK

Chinese demand for this species is fair, according to exporting mills and yards. Some Chinese yards and end users are pushing their US suppliers for lower prices on new orders, while others aren’t doing much haggling, knowing record-low production is keeping inventories manageable even when sales are not robust. Domestic demand is slowly increasing, giving sellers more options to move their production while simultaneously making them less inclined to discount prices. Supply and demand are in equilibrium this week across all grades and thicknesses in both green and kiln dried, holding all the published figures steady.

WHITE OAK

Specialty White Oak items are in decent demand, and some producers are receiving premiums for their 10-foot and longer stock. Conversely, several shorter-length Fas items are hard to move, even at discounted prices. Contacts over the last few weeks have stated that supplies of green White Oak exceed fair demand, especially in #1C. One green sawmiller said he would have to get orders for 4/4 #1C White Oak to know where prices are, but he does not have any. Despite that, adjustments in prior weeks have all the green White Oak figures in order. Weakness is evident in reported kiln dried 4/4 #1C White Oak prices, however, and the listings and ranges are reduced accordingly. The only other changes on the dry side lower the listings and high end ranges for 8/4 Fas.

POPLAR

Poplar orders are keeping pace with production. Fas is the strongest grade, followed by #1C and #2A, domestically and internationally. The lack of interest in #2A mirrors slow demand from Chinese and Vietnamese furniture manufacturers, who are willing to purchase extra loads but usually at reduced prices. Still, reported green transactions are clustered around the current #2B&Btr listings, while reported kiln dried transactions are grouped around their listings and within their respective ranges. The only changes to any Poplar figures raise the low-end ranges for kiln dried 5/4 Fas.