MyReport                                                 

Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from September 4, 2026

In this issue of Hardwood Market Report, please note small changes to many of the listings and range numbers in the measured before kiln drying (gross tally) price matrices (pages 3, 8-9, and 13). These changes are not the result of price fluctuations in the market. They are one-time adjustments due to our shift to an automated process for converting net tally prices to gross tally prices as part of a larger project to improve the accuracy and timeliness of HMR reporting. Almost all these changes are $5 or $10 moves and are bolded per our standard practice.

This issue also has changes that are the result of actual price fluctuations. The net tally matrices include only the changes resulting from actual fluctuations, whereas the gross tally matrices include those changes along with the adjustments due to the shift to an automated process.

Surveys of market participants reveal that grade lumber sales are strongest to the distribution and moulding/millwork sectors. Markets for pallet cants are busy, offering more certainty than most grade lumber markets. Comments about crosstie demand run the gamut, with sellers reporting uneven monthly sales to one treater, while another treater has ramped up purchases from non-regular suppliers in the northern tier of the region. This is not indicative of a broader change in tie markets, however.

ASH

Activity for this species is decent, especially for kiln dried 4/4 #2A&Btr. Some sellers indicate 5/4 Fas requires more effort to move. Inventories of 6/4 and 8/4 Fas have risen, though not to worrisome levels. Information raises the low-end ranges for 4/4 and 8/4 #1C but lowers the listings and low-end ranges for 6/4 #2A and the noted range figures for 6/4 Fas, 8/4 Fas, and 6/4 #1C. Green mills have no issues moving their Ash production. Upward bias in reported prices lifts the listings for 4/4 through 6/4 Fas&1f by $20 per thousand board feet ($/MBF).

BASSWOOD

BEECH

CHERRY

Exporters of Cherry to China are struggling to generate orders due to a slowdown in usage by China’s online furniture manufacturers. Fas is under more downward price pressure than #1C. Reports warrant $40/MBF reductions to the green North Central 4/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f listings. Downward activity is similarly most prevalent for kiln dried Fas. The listings and noted ranges fall for 4/4 through 8/4 Fas and 8/4 #1C in each subregion. The Appalachian 4/4 #1C listings also retreat.

HICKORY

Markets for green Hickory continue to perform well, especially residential flooring plants. Mills are moving developing production with relative ease. The listings for green 4/4 #1C&Btr and 5/4 Fas&1f are raised. The kiln dried 4/4 Fas listings also advance.

HARD MAPLE

Kiln dried transactions point out steady pricing for the common grades. However, pressure on upper-grade prices is evident in reductions to the listings and noted ranges for 5/4 through 8/4 Fas and the ranges for 4/4 Fas in each color designation. Supplies of most green items are aligned with demand across each color sort. Meanwhile, observed prices drive down the 5/4 Fas&1f listings in both #1&2 White and Unselected.

SOFT MAPLE

There is a close balance between supplies and limited demand for kiln dried Soft Maple. Reported prices are in line with prior data, allowing the listings and ranges to stand in all thicknesses. Green supplies are readily meeting buyers’ needs. Information gathered this week keeps the listings intact for all items except Sap&Btr 5/4 Fas&1f, which fall back. Demand for Brown Soft Maple is strong, with some producers identifying it as their best-moving species and color combination.

#2&3A OAK

Sawmills have steady-to-larger order files for green 4/4 #2A&3A Red Oak, compared with steady-to-smaller order files for 4/4 #2A&3A White Oak. Some residential wood flooring manufacturers are experiencing better business, whereas most truck trailer flooring producers are only moderately busy. Decent demand for similar quality material from industrial markets is constraining overall supply. Softening kiln dried prices are prompting concentration yards to lower purchase prices for green lumber, but firm prices for #2A&3A moving to flooring plants keep the listings intact. The listing for #2A Alone Red Oak is also unchanged.

RED OAK

Comments about Red Oak share a dour tone. Offer prices from China are falling, with US-Iran war-related difficulties shipping to the Middle East pushing more 6/4 and 8/4 to China and contributing to downward price pressures. Red Oak sales to domestic markets are decent for some producers but slow for others. Many concentration yards are lowering green purchase prices, expecting further declines on the dry side. “It is difficult to know what is going to happen with kiln dried Red Oak pricing going forward given all the discounting,” a longtime buyer said, adding, “Therefore, when I am considering purchases from our green Red Oak suppliers, I either have to offer very low prices or not purchase.” Transactions show declining prices for green 4/4 #1C that take down the listing. Previous reductions have all the other green listings in order. Meanwhile, information lowers the kiln dried 4/4 #1C&Btr listings and noted range numbers.

WHITE OAK

The supply picture for White Oak has shifted from plentiful in spring and summer to more balanced of late. Exporting concentration yards and residential flooring plants have become more cautious with green purchases, though no additional reductions are warranted to the listings this week. Contacts report decent kiln dried Fas prices in domestic markets, if they can find the business. Meanwhile, the breadth of international markets for White Oak has worked to cushion the impact of slower shipments to China. Supplies of most kiln dried items are aligned with the market’s needs. 6/4 Fas is an exception, with reported prices necessitating reductions to the listings.

POPLAR

Observed prices for green 4/4 Fas&1f Poplar lift the listings $20/MBF in this edition, ending the slow-but-steady downward trend since November 2025. These are supply-driven increases, as multiple mills recently reduced Poplar production. Conversely, lower reported prices drive reductions to the 4/4 and 5/4 #2A listings, with dry-side throughput hampered by sluggish demand from Asian furniture manufacturers. Certain green mills are requiring yards to take some #1C to procure loads of Fas&1f. Downward bias in reported prices lowers the kiln dried 5/4 Fas listings and 4/4 #1C listings and high-end ranges.

WALNUT

Only premium grades have been listed as best-selling Walnut items in recent weeks, while no Walnut has appeared on any list of worst-selling items. Transactions are occurring at prices that keep all green and kiln dried figures intact, following reports of better demand for the common grades than for Fas of late.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Framestock usage in the furniture sector has increased because tariffs have driven up costs for imported plywood. The long-term picture still has more headwinds than tailwinds, however, from the use of alternative products. Production aligns with demand, holding the ranges for Oak and Mixed Species framestock steady.

Demand for cants is fair from the pallet sector. Cant prices show upward momentum, even from buyers whose purchase prices rarely change. This indicates stronger competition for material from the center of the log is present from other low-grade markets, and there is less availability stemming from production declines and sawmill capacity coming off the market. Information is sufficient to raise the listing and both ends of the range by $10/MBF.

Comments about tie demand have been highly mixed over the last few weeks. Buyers are still managing inventories through quotas but are paying slightly higher prices to some sawmills. Information lifts both ends of the range in the Northern Appalachian subregion but holds the range steady in the Southern Appalachian subregion.

Demand is less consistent for board road than for cants, with reports describing good sales for a few weeks, followed by periods of inactivity. Prices are well represented by the listing and range.

International Comments

GENERAL

Please see our graphs.