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Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from July 17, 2026

Hardwood lumber production at sawmills in the Appalachian region rose 20.6% in June from May, supporting the broader 11.8% increase across all three producing regions and putting the annualized pace at 4.081 billion board feet, according to estimates by HMR/Fastmarkets. Red Oak and Poplar accounted for the highest average shares of total production.

Market sentiments are mixed in mid-July, with some contacts reporting fair sales at decent prices but others reporting difficulty making desired margins on certain items. One secondary manufacturer is scaling back purchasing of core green items to keep inventories manageable, while several mill and yard contacts report some items are taking longer to sell than they would like. Demand for Hickory and Ash is holding up well, while Cherry and Red Oak activity in China has slowed from strong levels. Supply and demand imbalances are creating downward pressures on certain green Soft Maple, White Oak, Poplar, and Walnut items.

Oak flooring shipments slowed in June, coming off a strong May. Meanwhile, flooring production has ramped back up to typical levels at some plants following the Fourth of July holiday, aided in some cases by expanding order files.

ASH

While Appalachian contacts neither list Ash among their best- nor worst-selling species, demand for most items is meeting or exceeding supply. The green Ash market is stable. However, downward bias in reported prices lowers the listing for 8/4 #1C. Decent Ash exports to Asia are more than offsetting tepid demand domestically, where Ash remains a secondary species in most markets. The kiln dried 4/4 #1C&Btr listings and noted ranges are raised.

BASSWOOD

BEECH

CHERRY

Sawmills and downstream sales operations are not struggling to find outlets for Cherry, but activity is comparatively slower in summer than it was in winter and spring. Chinese demand tends to cool in mid-summer, historically, and that is the case this year. Contacts say Fas moves best, followed by #1C and #2A. In green, the only price changes in either direction lower the listings for 4/4 #2A in each subregion. Most kiln dried figures are unchanged, suggesting equilibrium between supply and demand. However, information warrants gains to the listings and ranges for Appalachian and North Central 8/4 #1C. The low-end ranges for North Central 5/4 #1C also rise.

HICKORY

Demand for Hickory remains high. In green, prices in observed transactions keep the Fas&1f and #2B listings intact but lift the #1C and #2A listings in all thicknesses. Kiln dried Hickory moves at a steady pace. Information necessitates gains to the low-end ranges for 4/4 #2A but keeps all other figures steady.

HARD MAPLE

Strength in Hard Maple activity reported by Northern contacts up until this week has not been evident in the Appalachian region. Mills are dodging this species to the extent possible, hoping for stronger demand this fall and winter. Presently, however, green and kiln dried supply and demand are balanced, coming off several weeks of imbalances that lowered many of the listings and ranges. All the published figures are in order for now.

SOFT MAPLE

Fas&1f are the slowest-selling grades of Soft Maple, while #1C and #2A are marginally stronger but still require effort to move. Transactions point out lower prices for Fas&1f, resulting in $20-$25 reductions across all thicknesses in both color classifications. Upper-grade weakness is also evident on the dry side. Lower reported prices pull down the 4/4 and 5/4 listings and ranges for both Sap&Btr and Unselected stocks. Producers are having no issues finding homes for brown Soft Maple, with contacts including it among their best-selling items, primarily in 4/4.

#2&3A OAK

Supplies of #2A&3A Red and White Oak are meeting the market’s requirements, which have shifted back and forth of late. Residential flooring plants that stopped or limited receipts in late-June and over the Fourth of July holiday—reporting well-stocked lumber yards—have resumed purchases of typical volumes from regular suppliers. Meanwhile, truck trailer flooring plants have shifted from controlling purchases in early summer to increasing purchases more recently, due to increased orders for finished goods. Traditionally, end users start building inventories in mid-summer for their late-fall and winter needs. Most pricing activity remains centered on the #2A&3A Red and White Oak listings, holding them and the #2A Alone Red Oak listing steady.

RED OAK

Trade data reveal fractionally higher total Red Oak exports year over year through May (+0.7%), which is hard to consider a “win” given the steep volume declines that occurred during the US-China tariff spat in April and May 2025. China imported 0.1% less Red Oak through the first five months of this year than last year. Efforts to generate demand for Red Oak from the EU-27+UK have been successful over the long term, but year-to-date shipments were down 13% through May. Domestic markets for Red Oak are lackluster, hampered by the economic impacts of the US-Iran war after a decent start to the year. Transactions reveal softer pricing for green 4/4 and 5/4 Fas&1f, and the listings are reduced. Kiln dried prices have been resilient. The only changes this week boost the 6/4 Fas listings.

WHITE OAK

White Oak remains a bestseller for several producers. The issue has been excess supply relative to decent demand for most items. That trend is evident again this week, spread across various grades and thicknesses. Reported green #1C prices have a downward bias that lowers the 4/4 through 6/4 listings. In kiln dried, contacts report good demand for, and limited supplies of, 5/4 Fas. Higher transaction prices confirm those reports and raise the listings. Conversely, the downward trend in 4/4 #2A prices continues, dropping the listings and high-end ranges.

POPLAR

Comments about green Poplar activity are mixed but suggest supply is readily meeting demand. One longtime large-volume buyer says green Poplar is plentiful; “We are turning down offers for green Poplar from non-regular suppliers, choosing instead to give our business to our regular long-term suppliers.” Reported green prices show the supply/demand balance tilting toward extra supply of certain items, as reflected in reductions to the listings for 4/4 #2A&Btr, 5/4 Fas&1f, and 10/4 Fas&1f. Downward pressure is less evident on the dry side. Most figures carry over from prior weeks, though the 5/4 Fas listings and low-end ranges for 4/4 and 5/4 Fas fall. Kiln dried sales contacts report decent sales to distributors. Also, US exports of Poplar lumber climbed 7% on the year through May, supported by 28% volume growth to Vietnam more than offsetting a 22% decline to China, two markets that primarily purchase common-grade Poplar.

WALNUT

Walnut is more salable for #1C and #2A than for Fas&1f, continuing the trend producers have expressed for several weeks. With demand lagging supply, the 4/4 and 5/4 Fas&1f listings are reduced for the third consecutive week. In contrast, demand for #1C and #2A is stretching supplies, lifting the listings for 4/4 and 5/4 #1C and all #2A items. All kiln dried figures are unchanged despite reports of slower exports.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Markets for Oak and Mixed Species framestock aren’t good but they are improving. Furniture plants are utilizing more framestock because antidumping duties and elevated fuel prices have made imported plywood pricier. Information holds the Oak framestock range in check but lifts both ends of the Mixed Species range.

Wood pallet manufacturers report fair-to-good pallet sales amid mostly adequate raw material inventories. Cants move easily at prices well represented by the listing and range. That said, prices in certain pockets of the region have escalated of late.

Markets for crossties remain sluggish, with quotas limiting sales to treating yards. No changes are required to the ranges in both subregions.

Board road is selling at a fair pace for Appalachian producers. Information keeps the listing and range steady.

International Comments

GENERAL

Please see our graphs.