Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from February 20, 2026.

Eastern US hardwood sawmill production in January was the lowest for any month in the 66 years HMR has been tracking production, falling 14.2% from December to an annualized rate of 3.622 billion board feet. Appalachian region production fell 12.4% for the month, compared to 17.7% and 13.4% declines in the Southern and Northern regions, respectively. As low as production was in January, it is important to note that two large winter storms over the last two weeks of the month contributed to the record low output, with multiple sawmills shutting down for several days due to bitter cold temperatures, several inches of snow and ice, and icy overall conditions.

While hardwood markets remain somewhat lethargic, there are scattered signs of “warming.” A green sawmiller reported a bit more sales activity over the last few weeks but no upward momentum in his sales prices, echoing similar comments from other producers. Log receipts have improved with better post-storm logging conditions. Most contacts report fair green lumber sales, while reports about kiln dried sales are mixed.

ASH

Sellers are generally receiving their asking prices for green Ash, because production is low and the resource is increasingly scarce due to the Emerald Ash Borer. For mills still sawing this species, it can take a long time to accumulate full loads. Accordingly, Ash is not high on mills’ priority lists, especially since logs can be stored longer in cold weather without degrade. Higher prices in reported transactions warrant increases to the listings for green 4/4 Fas&1f. Information also lifts the high end ranges for kiln dried 6/4 #2A but lowers the high end ranges for 8/4 #1C.

BASSWOOD

BEECH

BIRCH

CHERRY

Low availability and rising Chinese demand that corresponded with the easing of US-China trade tensions prompted higher pricing in late-2025 and early 2026. However, the pace of increases has slowed now that Chinese replenishing has occurred. Items in the North Central region have more momentum than those in the Appalachian. Price reports lift the listings for North Central green 4/4 Fas&1f, 8/4 Fas&1f, and 4/4 through 8/4 #1C, whereas only the 4/4 Fas&1f listings move higher in the Appalachian area. In kiln dried, the only changes raise the listings for North Central 4/4 #1C and high end ranges for 4/4 Fas.

HICKORY

Hickory’s density, along with its natural color contrast between heartwood and sapwood, are appealing characteristics for consumers, especially in residential flooring and cabinet markets. Demand is slowly increasing, as it tends to do during cool weather months that precede stain season. Green and kiln dried supplies are aligned with the market’s needs, requiring no changes to any price figures in this edition.

HARD MAPLE

While some contacts report slow activity and some difficulty receiving their asking prices for this species, others report good demand at stable prices. One contact reported sales prices well above HMR listings from a cabinet plant that is beefing up its lumber yard. This is coming ahead of what is typically seasonally stronger demand in spring. In a broader sense, however, price pressures are not evident in either direction, and the printed figures are reflective of current activity.

SOFT MAPLE

Interest in kiln dried Soft Maple is steady, and inventories of most grades and thicknesses are manageable. Reported Sap&Btr and Unselected prices are not fluctuating much, keeping most of the listings and ranges intact. That said, information necessitates lowering the high end ranges for kiln dried 6/4 #1C in the Sap&Btr color sort. Business for brown Fas Soft Maple is good, but sales of the brown common grades are lagging.

#2&3A OAK

Extreme winter weather is hampering both the air drying and kiln drying processes. The uptick in demand for #2A&3A Oak from the truck trailer floor industry is showing signs of waning after a few busy weeks, resembling last summer’s short-lived purchasing cycle. Inventories of #2A&3A Red Oak lumber at residential flooring plants are sufficient to meet expected near-term demand for finished products. However, some plants want less #3A White Oak, corresponding with lagging sales of No. 2Com White Oak flooring, much of which is derived from #3A lumber. Reported 4/4 #3A White Oak prices are off, warranting a reduction to the listing. Meanwhile, observed prices for #2A&3A Red Oak are little changed from prior weeks. The listings for those items and for #2A Alone Red Oak hold steady.

RED OAK

Many Chinese buyers have temporarily moved to the sidelines during the start of Chinese New Year, but inquiries and orders are still occurring. Slightly more survey respondents report good demand from China than report fair or lower demand. While domestic interest in Red Oak is increasing from low holiday period levels, there is little indication of potentially robust spring demand. Uncertainty about future demand from the domestic housing market remains problematic, even with mortgage interest rates down from this time last year. Downward pressure is evident in reported kiln dried 4/4 Fas prices, and the listings are reduced. Conversely, supplies of 8/4 #1C lag demand—largely because production has been focused on other thicknesses—and the listings and low end ranges advance. Transactions point to higher green 4/4 Fas&1f prices; those listings move higher, but all other green figures are unchanged.

WHITE OAK

Sales of this species are good enough to keep it on many sellers’ lists of best-moving items. Yet, supplies of several items outweigh current needs, and the downward trend in prices continues. Unlike prior years, shortages don’t exist because competition for White Oak from the stave sector is greatly diminished. Recall that the stave sector’s purchasing of high and medium quality logs took a considerable amount of Fas&1f and #1C off the market. The reverse is true now. In green, softer prices drive decreases to the listings for 5/4 and 6/4 Fas&1f; 4/4 and 8/4 #1C; and 4/4 #3A. In kiln dried, survey results prompt reductions to the 5/4 Fas listings and 4/4 #1C listings and ranges.

POPLAR

Poplar log decks were low and production was down at this time roughly a year ago. Supply shortages, combined with seasonally warming demand, drove green and kiln dried prices higher last spring. Poplar log and lumber shortages are not an issue at present, however. Instead, supply and demand are in equilibrium for most items. That said, reductions are warranted to the listings for 12/4 and 16/4 Fas&1f. All kiln dried figures hold except for increases to the low ends of the 6/4 Fas ranges.

WALNUT

The price matrices for Walnut are “quiet” this week, after being among the “busiest” in 2025 and the first few weeks of 2026. Even so, competition for Walnut logs remains fierce, and concentration yards are assertively purchasing green lumber to satisfy solid domestic demand and fill orders from China, Vietnam, and other overseas markets.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Positive comments about framestock have been rare. However, one producer stated this week that framestock has been moving better lately at a relatively decent price. Aggregated information over several weeks keeps the ranges for Oak and Mixed Species framestock intact.

Markets for wooden packaging material are fair. Demand is keeping total cant production shipped. With tie purchases slowing, mills are pushing more log center material into cants. Markets thus far are absorbing the additional production at stable prices, but contacts are concerned this won’t last over the long term. For now, observed prices are well represented by the cant listing and range.

Anticipated railroad mergers have parties examining their capital expenditures and future tie purchase volumes. At the same time, tie inventories at treating facilities remain near multi-year highs. Changes in prior weeks have the 7x9 crosstie ranges in order in each subregion.

Board road activity is fair for some sellers but down for others, continuing the broader trend in 2025. The few reported transactions point to a stable listing and range.