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APPALACHIAN AREA – GREEN: | |||
ASH | 6/4 | FAS | 1560- |
8/4 | FAS | 1665- | |
#1C | 1015- | ||
HICKORY | 4/4 | #1C | 475- |
5/4 | #1C | 500- | |
6/4 | #1C | 605- | |
8/4 | #1C | 755- | |
HARD MAPLE – #1&2 WHITE | 4/4 | FAS | 1605+ |
#2A | 585- | ||
5/4 | FAS | 1715+ | |
6/4 | FAS | 1825+ | |
8/4 | FAS | 1985+ | |
RED OAK | 4/4 | #2A | 440- |
#3A | 330- | ||
#2A Alone | 460- | ||
5/4 | #2A | 450- | |
#3A | 355- | ||
6/4 | #2A | 460- | |
#3A | 360- | ||
8/4 | #2A | 465- | |
#3A | 370- | ||
WHITE OAK | 5/4 | #2A | 510- |
#3A | 450- | ||
8/4 | FAS | 3900- | |
POPLAR | 4/4 | FAS | 875+ |
#1C | 475+ | ||
#2A | 345+ | ||
5/4 | FAS | 895+ | |
#1C | 500+ | ||
#2A | 365+ | ||
6/4 | FAS | 910+ | |
#1C | 520+ | ||
#2A | 385+ | ||
8/4 | FAS | 940+ | |
#1C | 530+ | ||
#2A | 390+ | ||
FRAMESTOCK – AIR DRIED | |||
4/4 OAK S2S | LOW/HIGH | 310-/425- | |
4/4 MIXED S2S | LOW/HIGH | 330-/445- | |
TIES – 7X9 – GREEN | |||
Southern Appalachian – 8½’ | LOW/HIGH | 34.00-/NC | |
Northern Appalachian – 8½’ | LOW/HIGH | 32.50-/NC | |
APPALACHIAN AREA – KILN DRIED: | |||
ASH | 4/4 | FAS | 1940- |
5/4 | FAS | 2070- | |
6/4 | #1C | 1440- | |
8/4 | FAS | 2340- | |
HARD MAPLE – #1&2 WHITE | 4/4 | #1C | 1235- |
6/4 | FAS | 2650- | |
#1C | 1395- | ||
8/4 | FAS | 2895- | |
HARD MAPLE – UNSELECTED | 4/4 | #1C | 1135- |
#2A | 690- | ||
6/4 | FAS | 2530- | |
#1C | 1335- | ||
8/4 | FAS | 2795- | |
SOFT MAPLE – UNSELECTED | 4/4 | #2A | 560- |
5/4 | #2A | 680- | |
RED OAK | 5/4 | #1C | 1220+ |
6/4 | FAS | 2075- | |
8/4 | FAS | 2210- | |
WHITE OAK | 4/4 | FAS | 4550- |
#1C | 1970- | ||
6/4 | FAS | 5140- | |
#2A | 1690- | ||
8/4 | FAS | 6255- | |
#1C | 2795- | ||
#2A | 1875- | ||
POPLAR | 6/4 | FAS | 1280+ |
WALNUT | 5/4 | #2A | 1865- |
6/4 | FAS | 5235- | |
#1C | 3650- | ||
#2A | 2300- | ||
8/4 | FAS | 5670- | |
#1C | 3795- | ||
#2A | 2355- | ||
APPALACHIAN AREA – KILN DRIED NET: | |||
ASH | 4/4 | FAS | 2085- |
5/4 | FAS | 2225- | |
6/4 | #1C | 1550- | |
8/4 | FAS | 2520- | |
HARD MAPLE – #1&2 WHITE | 4/4 | #1C | 1330- |
6/4 | FAS | 2850- | |
#1C | 1500- | ||
8/4 | FAS | 3110- | |
HARD MAPLE – UNSELECTED | 4/4 | #1C | 1220- |
#2A | 740- | ||
6/4 | FAS | 2715- | |
#1C | 1435- | ||
8/4 | FAS | 3000- | |
SOFT MAPLE – UNSELECTED | 4/4 | #2A | 600- |
5/4 | #2A | 730- | |
RED OAK | 5/4 | #1C | 1310+ |
6/4 | FAS | 2230- | |
8/4 | FAS | 2375- | |
WHITE OAK | 4/4 | FAS | 4900- |
#1C | 2115- | ||
6/4 | FAS | 5515- | |
#2A | 1815- | ||
8/4 | FAS | 6715- | |
#1C | 3000- | ||
#2A | 2015- | ||
POPLAR | 6/4 | FAS | 1375+ |
WALNUT | 5/4 | #2A | 2010- |
6/4 | FAS | 5635- | |
#1C | 3930- | ||
#2A | 2475- | ||
8/4 | FAS | 6095- | |
#1C | 4080- | ||
#2A | 2535- |
Appalachian Comments
Comments from 10/25/2024
US exports of hardwood lumber totaled 106.1 MMBF in August; this is a 12% increase over August 2023. Year to date export shipments climbed 6% through August, led by solid gains for Red Oak (+11%), White Oak (+14%), Poplar (+9%), and Walnut (+15%). Conversely, year to date exports declined for Ash (-11%) and Cherry (-22%). Shipments were down 4% on the year to China but up 12% to all other destinations combined. Among the most notable increases were gains of 29% to Vietnam, 24% to the UK, and 65% to Australia. Exports to Mexico lagged year ago levels for much of the year but are now up 4% due to strong shipments in recent months. See page 17 for more details on exports.
ASH
Orders for green 4/4 and 5/4 #2A&Btr Ash are consistently available for sawmills. Supply and demand are balanced for those items, but interest in thicker stocks is faltering amid weaker kiln dried sales. The 6/4 Fas&1f and 8/4 #1C&Btr listings are reduced on lower reported prices. In international markets, thicker stocks of kiln dried Ash are facing growing competition from Ash lumber sawn in China from US logs. This is especially true for 8/4, though price pressure extends to many items. The listings and ranges retreat on lower reported prices for 4/4, 5/4, and 8/4 Fas as well as 6/4 #1C. The low and high sides of the 6/4 Fas ranges also fall back.
BASSWOOD
Some Basswood producers and resellers have established niche markets that are performing fairly well. Apart from those exceptions, this species is attracting limited interest from the marketplace. Sawmills continue to avoid Basswood production. Grade lumber production is slow to move, but low grade Basswood has been problematic for sales. Prior decreases have all the green and kiln dried listings and ranges in order.
BEECH
CHERRY
Market conditions for this species are highly unfavorable. Domestically, end users are buying very little green or kiln dried stock. Orders from distribution yards are sporadic, usually include high-end color specifications, and are rarely for truckload quantities. Volume kiln dried Cherry business is almost non-existent except to China. Mills and drying operations have been somewhat successful in aligning production with demand. With kiln dried supplies trending down, prices are firming in selected transactions. That said, no changes are warranted to any of the published green or kiln dried figures this week.
HICKORY
Manufacturers in all sectors of consumer wood products remain highly cautious with Hickory purchases. Some have enough inventory to last three or more months at the current rate of finished goods sales. The situation is reportedly most problematic in the residential flooring industry, with some plants tightening up purchasing specifications to yield less of the slower selling sizes. The green 4/4 through 8/4 #1C listings decline, while the kiln dried figures are unchanged following last week’s reductions to 4/4 #1C&Btr.
HARD MAPLE
Green #1&2 White #1C&Btr Hard Maple are moving at a decent pace, as are Unselected Fas&1f. Meanwhile, sales of Unselected #1C are slow, as are #2A and #3A in all color selections. These varied performances are evident in reported #1&2 White prices, which lift the 4/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f listings but lower the 4/4 #2A figure. Market conditions are much the same for kiln dried Hard Maple, except that thicker stocks and #1&2 White 4/4 #1C are not moving particularly well and are experiencing price pressures. The 4/4 #1C, 6/4 #1C&Btr, and 8/4 Fas listings and ranges are reduced in both color classifications. The Unselected 4/4 #2A listings also edge lower.
SOFT MAPLE
Current supply and demand circumstances for this species are emblematic of the broader hardwood marketplace. That is, upper grade output is only marginally adequate to satisfy buyers’ needs, and prices are holding firm; #1C and #2A are being produced in larger quantities than markets are readily absorbing. Previous changes have most of the green and kiln dried listings and ranges in order, with only the kiln dried Unselected 4/4 and 5/4 #2A figures down this week.
#2&3A OAK
Flooring plants of all kinds reined in lumber purchases in summer and early fall. Supplies of #2A&3A Red Oak are still high relative to demand, and #2A&3A White Oak availability has increased, though not to the same extent as Red Oak. Prices are under significant downward pressure. Continued efforts are being made to push #3A prices down harder than #2A prices. The 4/4 through 8/4 #2A&3A Red Oak, 4/4 #2A Alone Red Oak, and 5/4 #2A&3A White Oak listings are reduced on lower prices in observed business.
RED OAK
Markets for this species are turning in mixed performances. Concentration yards are consistently buying green #1C&Btr Red Oak, but residential and truck trailer flooring factories are purchasing smaller volumes of #2A&3A and #1C than in past months. On the kiln dried side, solid exports are largely offsetting lackluster domestic business. Sales operations have decent order files for #1C&Btr, whereas #2A business is mediocre, at best. Also, 4/4 and 5/4 are in higher demand than thicker stocks. Prices vary accordingly. The green 8/4 Fas&1f listings and kiln dried 5/4 #1C figures advance, while the green 4/4 through 8/4 #2A&3A and 4/4 #2A Alone listings decline along with the kiln dried 6/4 and 8/4 Fas listings and noted range numbers.
WHITE OAK
Sawmills are moving most green #1C&Btr White Oak items with ease, although 8/4 Fas&1f are exceptions. Meanwhile, #2A&3A are drawing less interest from flooring plants. Lower reported prices subtract from the 8/4 Fas&1f and 5/4 #2A&3A listings this week. Markets for kiln dried White Oak are less vibrant than earlier in the year but are still decent. Increased supply and somewhat lower demand are applying downward pressure to prices. The listings and most of the ranges for 4/4 #1C&Btr, 6/4 Fas and #2A, and 8/4 #2A&Btr retreat.
POPLAR
This week brought favorable reports about green Poplar business. Sawmills are well supplied with orders, and prices are trending higher. The 4/4 through 8/4 #2A&Btr listings notch gains. However, price increases are not coming as readily for kiln dried as for green Poplar. Most kiln dried items are moving at a good clip, but markets remain highly price competitive. The 6/4 Fas listings and ranges advance, while all the other published figures hold steady.
WALNUT
Market conditions for this species are little changed from a week ago. Green Walnut is drawing decent interest from concentration yards at prices grouped mostly around the listings. Stocks sorted for enhanced lengths, widths, or color are priced higher. Combined domestic and export demand for kiln dried Walnut is decent, but prices remain under pressure in the key Chinese market. The kiln dried 5/4 #2A, 6/4 #2A&Btr, and 8/4 #2A&Btr listings and ranges retreat.
FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD
Upholstered furniture sales usually gain momentum in the fall. However, manufacturers report little to no improvement since the end of summer. Some attribute this to high costs for everyday goods that are straining consumers’ discretionary spending. As one contacts said, “No one can afford to splurge on furniture at this point.” Amid these circumstances, furniture plants are not buying much framestock but especially not much solid hardwood framestock. The low and high sides of the Oak and Mixed Species ranges fall back in this issue.
Supplies of pallet cants and lumber are trending up. Markets are not overrun at this point, but sawmills are concerned that will soon occur. While cant prices show a downward bias, no changes are warranted to the listing or range at this time.
Tie treating facilities are in the market for decent quantities of 7x9 crossties. While most prices are holding steady within the respective ranges, the last couple of weeks have seen more reports of prices below the ranges. The low ends of both ranges fall $0.50.
Demand for board road is weak. Prices hold steady in limited trading.
International Comments
GENERAL
Please see our graphs.