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Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from October 30, 2026.

A sizeable majority of contacts (87%) reports level-to-lower log decks over the last three weeks. Separately, a longtime buyer for a large manufacturer commented that overall log supply is the lowest he has ever seen, prompting concerns about lumber supplies tightening up. Despite this, more green prices were lowered than raised in this edition, with limited demand outweighing limited supplies for several items. However, information suggests the worm is turning slightly for green 4/4 #2A&3A Red Oak, the listings for which were raised for only the second time all year. This coincides with increasing competition for raw materials from industrial markets.

Lumber orders are increasingly length-specific. About this, one contact said, “Historic usage of random-width and random-length lumber is slipping away, while specific lengths, widths, and sorts are gaining traction.”

Demand for grade lumber is fair-to-stronger from distribution yards and from the moulding, millwork, and cabinet sectors. Sales are stronger to residential flooring plants than truck trailer plants. Meanwhile, demand is mixed from the wood component and wood furniture sectors.

ASH

Production of certain Ash items lags good demand, hampered by ever-dwindling resource scarcity resulting from the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer. The phrase “I could sell more if I had it” remains common on surveys and during phone calls. Observed and reported prices prompt increases to the listings for green 4/4 and 6/4 Fas&1f. The listings for kiln dried 4/4 Fas Ash also rise.

BASSWOOD

BEECH

CHERRY

Demand for this species has not changed much over the past few weeks, holding at a low level since Chinese interest decelerated in early fall. The ample rate of production is pressuring certain prices in the North Central subregion. The listing for green 6/4 #1C is lowered by $10 per thousand board feet ($/MBF), and the listings for kiln dried 5/4 #1C also warrant reductions.

HICKORY

Comments about Hickory are favorable throughout the supply chain. Sawmills are having no issues moving their green production to residential flooring plants and certain concentration yards that include Hickory among their best-moving species. Sufficiently higher reported prices lift the listings for green 4/4 Fas&1f and the listings and noted ranges for kiln dried 4/4 #2A&Btr.

HARD MAPLE

Industry contacts report tepid demand for upper-grade Hard Maple alongside fair interest in the common grades. Downward pressures are evident in reported green thicker-stock items, necessitating reductions to the listings for 6/4 Fas&1f and 8/4 #1C&Btr in each color sort. However, the same pressures are not as evident for kiln dried stocks. All the kiln dried figures in each color classification carry over from last week.

SOFT MAPLE

Soft Maple is slightly more represented on contacts’ lists of best-moving than worst-moving items in recent weeks. The combination of a modest uptick in demand, albeit from a low level, and very low production has balanced availability with need, keeping prices for nearly all items in check. The only changes lift the listings for kiln dried Sap&Btr 4/4 #1C, with supplies marginally lower than the market’s needs.

#2&3A OAK

Lumber yards at residential flooring plants are well-stocked with #2A&3A White Oak, to the point where certain supplying sawmills say purchase order volumes have been reduced or stopped for a few weeks. Although #2A&3A White Oak are readily available, reported prices align with those in prior weeks, and the listings are unchanged. Residential flooring manufacturers are, at times, finding #2A&3A Red Oak procurement a bit more challenging. Concerns about scarcity are rising but aren’t at alarm-bell levels. Meanwhile, US truck trailer orders surged 78% in September from August to the highest level since December 2022. Rising orders in both August and September suggest substantial pent-up trailer replacement demand, and possibly some limited fleet expansion, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence. The uptick partially explains growing competition for #2A&3A Red Oak. The listings for 4/4 #2A&3A and 4/4 #2A Alone Red Oak are raised for only the second time in 2026.

RED OAK

Demand for kiln dried Red Oak was weaker in October, impacted by declining Chinese interest. Domestic demand is fair but insufficient to offset declining exports. Activity is stronger for #1C than for Fas. Observed prices warrant reductions to the listings for kiln dried 4/4 Fas and 6/4 #1C but drive increases to the listings for 5/4 #1C and the low-end ranges for 8/4 Fas. With log decks presently low and sawmill capacity reductions occurring over the course of the year, flooring plants aren’t being overrun with #2A&3A Red Oak, which are moving at a better pace than their White Oak counterparts. Increases are warranted to the listings for green 4/4 #2A&3A and 4/4 #2A Alone Red Oak. All other #2A&3A Red Oak listings stand pat.

WHITE OAK

Excess supply relative to fair demand continues to define the Appalachian green White Oak market. This imbalance is evident for certain thicker-stock items; reported prices reduce the listings for 5/4 Fas&1f, 6/4 #1C, and 8/4 #1C. Green #2A&3A prices are typically higher for White Oak than Red Oak but are currently quite a bit lower for the former than the latter. This is largely due to limited competition for White Oak logs from the stave sector—resulting in ample White Oak lumber production—alongside lower interest for White Oak than Red Oak flooring. Despite scattered reports of better demand for kiln dried 5/4 #1C White Oak, reported prices show downward bias that lowers the listings by $20/MBF. Information also warrants reductions to the high-end ranges for 5/4 Fas and the listings for 8/4 #2A.

POPLAR

Producers and resellers of this species report similar market conditions: Poplar moves and inventories are manageable, but profitability is difficult or nonexistent. Mills are generally unable to get green price increases from yards, because yards likewise can’t get higher prices from their customers. As a result, maintaining whatever thin profit margins exist is a top priority. The only green changes this week lower the listings for 12/4 and 16/4 Fas&1f. Kiln dried supply and demand are in equilibrium, and all figures remain intact.

WALNUT

Demand for this species is fair domestically, supported by usage in high-end residential and commercial interior upfits. However, sales to export markets are struggling to compete with Chinese- and Vietnamese-produced Walnut lumber sawn from US logs and offered at lower prices. Reported prices warrant no changes to any green items this week. Likewise, observed kiln dried prices are at or near the listings or within the ranges, keeping all the published figures at previous levels.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Interest in air-dried solid hardwood framestock is sluggish. Sales to upholstered furniture plants are slow because they are already well-stocked with materials to make frames. Still, reported prices are within the Oak and Mixed Species framestock ranges.

Markets for wooden pallets and packaging materials are performing fairly well, contributing to an industrial sector that seems to be improving, according to a longtime industry contact. Demand is sufficient to absorb total cant production. Reported prices hold the cant listing and range in place.

Mills report tie treaters are taking their full production and paying decent prices amid rising concerns of supply shortages in the coming months. For now, transactions are occurring within the published ranges.

Some board road producers have reported an uptick in inquiries and orders in the fall, while others have reported no change in market conditions. Prices gathered for board road this week are holding steady at the listing or within the range.

International Comments

GENERAL

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