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Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from July 10, 2026

Most sawmills have resumed production following the Fourth of July holiday weekend, but others have extended their closures, citing slow demand and elevated inventories of certain items. Still others are in the process of sawing off their remaining log decks and selling their final lumber production runs, expecting to permanently close in late summer or early fall.

Domestic and international sales often slow around mid-year and pick back up after the summer vacation season. One longtime sawmiller reports more sticking and stacking lumber than selling; “Hopefully, someone wants to buy some kiln dried lumber down the road.” To be clear, this scenario is not widespread across the region. Some producers have more orders than lumber for certain items, and a large millwork manufacturer reports stable business and steady orders from core customers. While production capacity is coming off the market over the long-term, reduced production during and immediately after the holiday period might limit or prevent inventory growth for the Maples and Red Oak.

ASH

Kiln dried sales and shipments of this species—primarily to export markets—are keeping pace with developing supplies. However, markets want more 4/4 #1C than is available, and the listings are raised, marking the first increases since late February. The high-end ranges for 6/4 #1C Ash also rise. Reported green prices are stable, allowing all figures to stand.

BASSWOOD

BEECH

CHERRY

Cherry has appeared less frequently on contacts’ lists of best-moving species in summer than spring. However, no Appalachian region contacts have listed Cherry among their worst-moving species over the last three weeks, despite news of declining demand from China’s furniture manufacturing sector. While yards report no issues procuring green lumber, purchasing is sufficient to keep most green listings intact. The only exceptions reduce the listing for 4/4 #2A in each subregion. Conversely, the only dry-side changes raise the 8/4 #1C listings and ranges in the Appalachian subregion and the low-end 8/4 Fas ranges in the North Central subregion.

HICKORY

Hickory remains a bright spot for sawmills. Green lumber moves in all grades and thicknesses as it is produced, mainly to domestic flooring plants. Transactions show continued upward price momentum for #2A, driving increases to 4/4 through 8/4 stock. Meanwhile, markets are accepting the pace of kiln dried production at prices that keep all listings and ranges unchanged.

HARD MAPLE

For most items, green availability is aligned with the market’s reduced needs. However, green 6/4 and 8/4 Fas&1f are oversupplied in the #1&2 White color designation, prompting reductions to the listings. Conversely, kiln dried 6/4 and 8/4 Fas inventories have thinned, resulting in supply-driven price gains that lift the listings for each color sort.

SOFT MAPLE

Sluggish demand for Sap&Btr and Unselected Soft Maple either rivals or surpasses that for Hard Maple, while demand for brown material remains quite strong. No green price changes are required this week despite reports of excess supplies and certain mills accepting low offers for #2A. Producers are, at times, struggling to find buyers for kiln dried 4/4 and 5/4 Fas; reported prices are slipping, and the Sap&Btr and Unselected listings and ranges are reduced accordingly.

#2&3A OAK

Sales slowed over the holiday period to residential flooring plants whose lumber yards were well stocked. Plants would like to increase White Oak lumber receipts because margins are stronger for White Oak than Red Oak finished goods. However, finished goods sales remain stronger for Red Oak than for White Oak. Demand has increased from truck trailer flooring plants. Purchasing from both sectors is absorbing green output, keeping all #2A&3A listings and the #2A Alone Red Oak listing steady.

RED OAK

Sawmills have attempted to lower Red Oak log costs so they are closer in line with market prices for lumber and industrial products. Some have achieved incremental reductions, but not enough to measurably impact profitability. Sawmill and yard contacts report “okay” demand from domestic markets. Some sellers indicate China wants more Red Oak lumber, but buyers don’t want to get caught holding 10% more expensive lumber if the tariff is rescinded during the latest round of negotiations. Green Red Oak lumber production and purchasing are well aligned, holding all prices steady. Reported and observed transactions also keep most kiln dried figures intact. The lone exceptions raise the high-end ranges for 4/4 Fas.

WHITE OAK

Contacts report mixed market conditions for this species by grade. Operations have enough business to keep kiln dried #1C&Btr inventories manageable and prices steady. However, information warrants reductions to the listings and noted ranges for 4/4 and 5/4 #2A. The low-end ranges for 5/4 Fas are also reduced, despite some contacts reporting healthy business for this item. Conversely, information warrants increases to high-end ranges for 6/4 #1C. Looking at green White Oak, demand for 4/4 Fas&1f and 5/4 through 8/4 #1C is not keeping up with production, and the listings retreat. The $40 reduction to the 4/4 Fas listing brings the price below the $2,300 threshold for the first time since September 2023. Broadly speaking, the trend of lower White Oak prices in 2026 is supply driven, with mills facing less competition for logs from stave markets. Several producers continue to list White Oak among their best-moving species. However, sales of 8-foot and shorter Fas require a lot of effort for most producers, usually at discounted prices.

POPLAR

Green Poplar supplies are aligned with demand following several weeks of imbalances that resulted in reductions to the listings, primarily for Fas&1f, in May and early June. Concentration yards and secondary wood products manufacturers have enough Poplar to meet their short-term inventory goals. Kiln dried sales are decent to domestic moulding and millwork producers and to distribution yards. However, demand for Poplar from Asia’s furniture manufacturing sector is lackluster despite hopes that it would increase in summer. According to export contacts, Chinese demand for Poplar remains slow. Typical monthly volumes have been moving to Vietnam, but buyers are offering more price resistance. Information received shows price erosion has been limited, so far. No changes are warranted to the kiln dried figures in this edition.

WALNUT

Comments about Walnut are more positive for the common grades than for the uppers. Green #1C and #2A are moving well to concentration yards from sellers that are sticking firmly with their asking prices. Meanwhile, yards are less eager to bring in Fas&1f. This divergence in demand and pricing is evident in transaction information that lowers the listings for green 4/4 and 5/4 Fas&1f but raises the listings for 4/4 and 5/4 #1C and all #2A items. Kiln dried prices have neither upward nor downward energy: All the listings and ranges hold steady.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Demand for solid hardwood framestock has improved slightly in 2026 due to elevated duties on imported plywood. Still, markets for Appalachian framestock are not strong. Information gathered for Oak and Mixed Species framestock shows few changes in pricing.

More contacts reported good demand for hardwood pallet cants than reported fair or slow demand in recent weeks, making this the strongest industrial item. Meanwhile, pallet sales reports are mixed, while finished goods inventories are deemed adequate for the market’s current needs. Information holds the cant listing and range in check.

Contacts report fair-to-lower demand for 7x9 crossties. Reported prices are steady following recent declines.

Demand for Appalachian mat timbers and board road is sluggish in early July, matching levels reported during the first half of the year. The board road listing and range stand pat.

International Comments

GENERAL

Please see our graphs.