Appalachian Comments

CHERRY

Cherry log exports to China in December were the strongest of the year, and shipments remain elevated in early 2026, according to contacts. This is limiting green production at the same time concentration yards are chasing this species to fill lumber orders for export. The listings for green 4/4 #1C, #2A, and #3A are raised in the Appalachian area. Kiln dried transactions point out mostly stable pricing following recent increases. The only changes to any kiln dried figures lift the low-end ranges for 4/4 Fas in the Appalachian area.

HICKORY

Demand for Hickory has improved over the last several weeks, with some green sawmill contacts reporting higher volume sales to flooring plants at higher #3A&Btr prices. Incoming price reports lift the listings for green 4/4 and 5/4 Fas&1f, as well as the listings for 5/4 through 8/4 #1C. Good activity continues on the dry side, and the listings and high-end ranges for 4/4 Fas are boosted.

POPLAR

Green Poplar production is matching fair market demand, and reported prices closely match the published listings. Kiln dried markets are a mixed bag: better for Fas than for the common grades, because #1C and #2A sales to Asia are sluggish and reported prices have a downward bias. The low-end ranges for 4/4 Fas, listings for 4/4 #1C, and high-end ranges for 4/4 #2A decline.

WALNUT

Activity for Walnut has downshifted from strong levels over the last few weeks. Sales are fair to distribution yards but slow to furniture manufacturers. Exporters report fair demand for Walnut from Vietnam and China, but slow demand elsewhere. Asian buyers have been paying high prices for good, moderate, and even low quality Walnut logs to feed their sawmill operations, thereby reducing log availability and lumber production in the US. Log availability issues have been easing of late, however. The resulting lumber production gains have aligned supply with demand, halting price increases. No changes are warranted to any Walnut figures except for increases to the low-end ranges for kiln dried 4/4 #1C.

Northern Comments

ASH

Northern exporters selling into China indicate Ash is among the highest demand species in that country. Shipments are concentrated primarily in 4/4, largely because Chinese and Vietnamese sawmills are filling most of the demand for thicker sizes like 6/4 and 8/4. Domestic markets for kiln dried Ash are sluggish, overall, though some sales operations are fielding inquiries and orders from new customers. The published kiln dried figures remain intact this week except for the low and high ends of the 4/4 Fas ranges, which notch gains. Sawmills are moving developing green Ash with little or no difficulty. Prices vary by length and color specifications, but random-width unselected stocks are garnering prices at or near the respective listings.

ASPEN

HARD MAPLE

In this week’s surveys, contacts often described markets for kiln dried Fas Hard Maple as lukewarm or sluggish. Most such comments result from difficulty selling 8-foot stock, which comprises a sizeable share of output in this region. Longer Fas is moving comparatively well. Prices for some Fas items have stabilized, while others continue to trend down, as evidenced by decreases to the #1&2 White 6/4 and 8/4 Fas figures. Secondary manufacturers are steadily buying 4/4 #1C Hard Maple with a strong preference for #1&2 White over Unselected or brown material. Supplies of #2A are elevated in the Northeastern sections of the region but not in the Upper Midwest. Newly obtained pricing information necessitates reductions to the green #1&2 White 4/4 #2A listing as well as the kiln dried 4/4 #2A listings and noted range figures in both color classifications.

RED OAK

Sawmill operators surveyed this week are pleased with the pace of green Red Oak sales. Amid strengthening Red Oak exports, concentration yards are in the market for more #1C&Btr along with some #2A. Flooring manufacturers are controlling #2A&3A purchases, but relatively low Red Oak production during the last four to six weeks kept supply from getting ahead of demand. While prices for most #1C&Btr items are firm, only the 4/4 #1C&Btr listings post gains. The upturn in exports, coupled with steady domestic activity, has depleted kiln dried 4/4 #1C&Btr Red Oak inventories, to a degree. Prices for those items are firm but do not warrant any changes to the published figures. The only changes for now are decreases to the listings and low-end ranges for 6/4 Fas.

WHITE OAK

The contraction in log consumption by barrel stave manufacturers during the last 18 months has been quite impactful to White Oak lumber markets. Production of White Oak lumber has increased because more logs have reached sawmills, whereas overall demand for lumber has been flat. As a result, green and kiln dried prices have fallen, some substantially. Looking at the current situation, most green and kiln dried White Oak items are in ample supply, and prices are broadly pressured. However, repeated cuts in recent weeks have all the published listings and ranges in order.