MyReport                                                 

Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from July 24, 2026

This week’s conversations and survey comments were largely centered on the short- and long-term impacts of recent sawmill closures. Namely, contacts discussed how closures will impact the balance between supply and demand. Given the myriad headwinds the hardwood industry has faced since 2018, supply and demand reaching equilibrium might feel like a watershed moment.

That did not occur this week, however. More published prices fell than rose, and comments suggest stability remains elusive. According to a buyer for one wood products manufacturer, “Supply and demand seem to be in balance despite the low amount of lumber being produced.” However, another buyer said, “Lumber availability is still ample to oversupplied.”

It is too early to determine the overall impact of recent sawmill closures on the market. A long-awaited upcycle might emerge next week, next month, or next year. When capacity attrition does end and demand for hardwood lumber increases, even modestly, producers are concerned the industry might not be able to fully capitalize on the uptick before the next lull occurs.

On a more granular level, all secondary wood products manufacturers responding to surveys over the last three weeks described their lumber inventories as adequate. Meanwhile, reports about finished goods sales vary from sector to sector. Lumber sales are fair to moulding, millwork, and component producers but remain slow to the wood furniture sector. The pallet industry remains the busiest low-grade market.

ASH

The usual market dynamics that apply to other species don’t necessarily apply to Ash because the dwindling resource—caused by the ongoing spread of the Emerald Ash Borer—limits production, helps prevent inventory growth, and supports price floors. Markets for green Ash are busy enough to keep production shipped at prices consistent with the listings. The lone exception is 8/4 #1C, for which reduced prices lower the listing. Conversely, upward momentum is evident in kiln dried 4/4 Fas prices, and the listings advance for a second consecutive week.

BASSWOOD

Basswood supplies are adequate to satisfy limited demand. Producers are shipping all green #2B&Btr and kiln dried #2A&Btr at prices closely aligned to the published figures.

BEECH

CHERRY

Yards have become less aggressive with green Cherry purchases, responding to slowing Chinese demand. Activity remains weak in other markets, including the US. To better reflect reported prices, the 4/4 #2A and #3A listings are lowered in each subregion. However, information raises the Appalachian green 4/4 #1C listing and kiln dried 5/4 and 6/4 Fas listings.

HICKORY

Arguments can be made that Hickory is the region’s strongest species, in terms of relatively easy sales at steady-to-higher prices. Producers are having no issues selling green output, with sizeable volumes of #3A&Btr moving to residential flooring plants. Green #2A&Btr prices are raised in all thicknesses, but no changes are required to any kiln dried figures.

HARD MAPLE

Demand for this species contracted sharply in spring, coming off a favorable winter. It took a combination of reduced production and discounted prices to bleed off excess inventories, align supply with demand, and stop the downward price trend. That balance continues this week. Appalachian sawmills and yards have not seen improvement or deterioration. Reductions in prior weeks have all the green and kiln dried figures in order.

SOFT MAPLE

Soft Maple has fallen below Hard Maple as the weaker of the two species. Both are among the leading species utilized in wood cabinet manufacturing. However, Soft Maple is typically more prevalent in moulding and millwork applications and in the case goods sector. Despite this diversity, demand for Soft Maple is now slow. Lower reported prices reduce the green 5/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f, 4/4 #1C, and 4/4 #2A listings in each color designation. The Sap&Btr 5/4 through 8/4 #1C listings also retreat. For kiln dried, the listings and noted range figures for 4/4 and 5/4 Fas decline in both color classifications.

#2&3A OAK

Certain flooring manufacturers report tighter Red Oak availability resulting from sawmill capacity reductions alongside stronger demand for Red Oak than White Oak finished goods. Competition is inching up among residential and truck trailer flooring manufacturers, but not enough to move the #2A&3A Red Oak listings higher. Instead, prices in observed transactions hold all the listings steady for the seventh consecutive week. Lumber inventories at some truck trailer flooring plants are adequate, but others are increasing their #2A&3A White Oak inventory targets. All the White Oak listings carry over from last week, however.

RED OAK

According to a yard contact, “Red Oak still moves, but it is nothing to get excited about.” The comment aligns with Chinese demand for Red Oak losing some steam in July and from the US-Iran war curtailing sales to the Middle East. Supplies of most kiln dried items align with demand, leading to limited price movement. Information reduces the 4/4 #1C listings but raises the high-end ranges for 8/4 Fas. Pressure on kiln dried prices is weighing on green 4/4 Fas&1f prices, as reflected in decreases to the listings.

WHITE OAK

Contacts continue to report two different markets for upper-grade White Oak. One, for 8-foot lengths, is described as “doggish” and includes large price discounts. The other is for 9-foot and longer stock that moves relatively well. Relative to availability, activity is stronger for 5/4 through 8/4 #1C than for 4/4. Limited activity in the kiln dried matrices this week suggests a closer balance between supply and demand. Reports do warrant increases to the low-end ranges for 4/4 Fas, helping tighten what had been a wide range. The high-end ranges for 5/4 #1C and listings for 6/4 #1C also advance. Supplies of green White Oak are readily meeting the market’s needs at prices consistent with the listings.

POPLAR

Markets are struggling to absorb green 4/4 Poplar output. Incoming information shows lower prices that reduce the listings for 4/4 #2A&Btr and 5/4 Fas&1f. Comments about kiln dried Poplar are mixed. Some exporters report no change in demand from Vietnamese furniture manufacturers, but others say those manufacturers are either inquiring about—or are purchasing—larger monthly volumes. No changes are warranted to any kiln dried listings or ranges following declines for certain items in recent weeks.

WALNUT

Market dynamics for Walnut lumber haven’t changed. Demand remains stronger for #1C and #2A than for Fas. Sellers have decent domestic business but slow international sales. Observed green prices warrant reductions to the 4/4 Fas&1f listings but no changes to #1C or #2A. Kiln dried transactions point out relatively stable prices. US exports of Walnut logs climbed 61% year over year through May, with Vietnam and China accounting for 90% of export volume. Total exports are on pace to set a new annual record by a wide margin in 2026.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Relatively few Oak and Mixed Species framestock transactions were reported this week. The Mixed Species range holds steady after rising last week. Oak framestock prices are also within the existing range.

Pallet cant production is marginally adequate to meet the market’s needs. While upward price pressure is evident in parts of the region, the listing and range stand pat.

Though a certain mill reported a higher crosstie price this month than last, there is no indication of broadly higher pricing across the region or any change in quotas. Almost all reported prices are holding steady inside the respective subregional ranges.

Board road markets are not particularly strong in the region. Information holds the listing and range in check.

International Comments

GENERAL

Please see our graphs.