Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from December 5, 2025.

Domestic demand is in the traditional year-end slow period, downshifting from fair-at-best levels prior to Thanksgiving. Moulding, millwork, and distribution remain the busiest sectors amid the broader seasonal slowdown, as they were for much of the year. Chinese demand is holding steady after receiving a modest boost from the announced US-China trade deal framework. Shippers still have time to get containers delivered to Chinese and Vietnamese ports ahead of their respective New Year celebrations, which start in mid-February. The uptick in Chinese demand is impacting Cherry and Red Oak the most, with China the only significant export market for Cherry and, similarly, the dominant foreign market for Red Oak. Supplies of kiln dried 4/4 Fas White Oak are more closely aligned with demand following a supply/demand imbalance that saw prices fall $300 (7%) since early October. Downward pressure on green 4/4 #2A Red Oak prices results in the first listing decline in 51 weeks.

ASH

Markets for green Ash showed very little change in direction this week. Business is steady, and sawmills are moving their full production. The listings for 6/4 and 8/4 #2A advance, but all the other green figures remain intact. Ash shipments to China, the largest global market for the species, slowed for a second consecutive month in August, with volume the lowest for any August since 2009. Meanwhile, total Ash exports in August were the lowest for any August since 1986. Shippers report fair to good demand for Ash more recently from Asia and Europe, but lackluster interest from domestic markets. The listings and low end ranges are reduced for 6/4 Fas and 5/4 #1C, and the listings for 5/4 #2A also fall back.

BASSWOOD

BEECH

CHERRY

Exporters are conveying positive reports about demand for #1C&Btr Cherry from Chinese end users. Demand picked up with the announcement of the US-China trade deal framework and has remained fairly good since. Accordingly, concentration yards are buying in decent sized lots of green Cherry. Sales are slow in the US and Canada, however. The listings for 4/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f and 4/4 #1C are increased in both subregions. Kiln dried price movements are more prevalent this week in the Appalachian than in the North Central subregion. All the Appalachian Fas listings and ranges advance, while the only changes in the North Central area lift the listings and ranges for 6/4 #1C.

HICKORY

The supply pipeline for green 4/4 #2B&Btr Hickory is sufficient to meet current demand. Reported green prices are in line with prior weeks. June, July, and August were the three slowest shipping months of the year for Hickory exports to Mexico, dropping the total through August 16% below the year-ago pace. Overall kiln dried supplies are in relative balance with demand, holding the listings and ranges steady in this edition.

HARD MAPLE

Markets for green #1C Hard Maple are softening due to seasonally slower demand from the cabinet industry. Meanwhile, interest in this species is weak from wood flooring and furniture manufacturers. Information reduces the listings for 4/4 through 8/4 #1C in both color sorts but lifts the Unselected 4/4 #3A listing. In kiln dried, supplies of thicker stocks are thin due to limited production and the focus on 4/4. Higher reported prices lift the listings and noted range figures for 6/4 through 8/4 #1C&Btr in both color designations along with the #1&2 White 5/4 #1C listings and high end ranges. In contrast, the top sides of the #1&2 White 5/4 Fas ranges retreat.

SOFT MAPLE

Markets are absorbing production of green Soft Maple in both color sorts with relative ease, at mostly stable prices. Buyers want more Sap&Btr 8/4 Fas&1f than the small quantities being produced, however, and the listings advance. Similar to Hard Maple, thicker sizes of kiln dried Soft Maple have become scarce. Observed prices for 8/4 Fas have increased, lifting the listings and noted ranges in both color classifications. The Sap&Btr 6/4 Fas ranges also notch gains.

#2&3A OAK

Reports detail reduced purchases of #2A&3A Red Oak by residential flooring plants at somewhat lower prices. Manufacturers have sufficient inventories for near-term production requirements and are less concerned about potential supply shortages than they were earlier this fall. Purchasing by truck trailer flooring plants is also off, aligning with low demand for finished goods and a generally poor short-term outlook. Information gathered this week lowers the listings for green 4/4 #2A and 4/4 #2A Alone Red Oak, but all the other #2A&3A Red Oak listings hold steady. Residential flooring plants are being somewhat more assertive with White Oak purchasing, keeping all #2A&3A White Oak listings intact.

RED OAK

Sawmills indicate customers are showing good interest in green 5/4 and thicker upper grade material, compared with steady or declining interest in other thickness/grade combinations. The listings for 5/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f climb. However, information reduces the listings for green 4/4 #1C, 4/4 #2A and 4/4 #2A Alone. Flooring plants are receiving more calls from producers offering common grade Red Oak, but plants are purchasing less in late fall than in early fall. Interest in kiln dried Red Oak rose when the US and China announced a trade deal framework at the end of October, and demand from China is still decent, according to sellers. Most reported kiln dried prices are consistent with prior weeks, but transactions point out downward pressure for 4/4 #1C that reduces the listings.

WHITE OAK

The listings for kiln dried 4/4 Fas White Oak hold this week following six consecutive weeks of declines. Despite the downward trend over that period, several contacts still listed White Oak as their bestselling species and Fas as the strongest grade. Reported prices for 4/4 #1C are still retreating, however, warranting reductions to the listings and high end ranges. Supplies of most green items have recently been aligned with decent demand, resulting in mostly stable pricing. That dynamic has changed, with reductions to the listings for 5/4 and 6/4 Fas&1f reflecting newer transactional data. Conversely, reports warrant an increase to the green 5/4 #1C listing.

POPLAR

Consumers continue to favor painted finishes in millwork, moulding, cabinets and furniture. As such, this species—which is widely used in painted applications—is moving steadily to these markets. Contacts in those sectors report steady to slightly lower demand for finished goods, which is typical for this time of year, coinciding with seasonally slower homebuilding activity. Supplies of green 4/4 Fas&1f, 5/4 Fas&1f, and 4/4 through 8/4 #1C exceed the market’s needs, and those listings are reduced. Kiln dried markets are relatively stable. The only price changes in either direction lift the low end ranges for 4/4 #1C.

WALNUT

Kiln dried #1C and #2A Walnut are moving well, relative to Fas, and primarily to Vietnam and China. Higher published prices for 5/4 #1C and 4/4 through 8/4 #2A result from supply shortfalls relative to demand. Prices for 6/4 and 8/4 Fas are unchanged despite reports that they are some sellers’ slowest moving items. Green Walnut prices remain steady this week after easily outpacing price growth for kiln dried items since summer.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

With most upholstered furniture plants using alternative products to make frames, demand for solid hardwood framestock is anemic. However, controlled production keeps the Oak and Mixed Species framestock price ranges stable.

Markets are absorbing production of pallet cants, as pallet manufacturers report fair sales. Transactions point out mostly steady pricing, allowing the listing and both ends of the range to stand.

Sawmills equipped to produce crossties want buyers to welcome additional receipts. However, inventories of treated 7x9 ties are high, and buyers are not accepting more ties, even from core vendors. Sales are occurring within the listed ranges in each producing area.

Suppliers report slow demand for board road. In limited trading, information shows prices are unchanged from prior weeks and in line with the listing and range.

International Comments

GENERAL

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