MyReport                                                 

Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from September 11, 2026

Surveys of Appalachian region sawmills indicate log supplies are level to slightly lower now than in August, while green and kiln dried lumber sales are mostly fair. However, there is a disconnect between the “slow,” “fair,” and “good” survey ratings compared with the lengthier written market descriptions and from notes taken during phone calls with industry contacts. Slow, low, and quiet are commonly used adjectives describing demand for grade lumber items, mainly from Asia. Exporting mills and yards have reported steady-to-slower shipments to Europe in recent weeks, but contacts expect some post-vacation season replenishing. “We are looking forward to foreign markets getting back from their vacation holidays,” a yard contact said. Domestic interest has “woken up” in early September, according to another contact. That sentiment isn’t region-wide, however, as transactions between many sellers and buyers are for short-term, immediate needs at flat-to-lower prices for several items.

ASH

The marketplace is readily absorbing green 4/4 and 6/4 Ash at prices centered on the #2A&Btr listings. Demand for 5/4 exceeds supply, however, prompting gains to all 5/4 stock. Conversely, transactions for 8/4 #1C&Btr reveal downward bias that lowers the listings. Weakness is evident in reported kiln dried 6/4 Ash prices. The listings for #1C and #2A are lowered by $20 per thousand board feet ($20/MBF).

BASSWOOD

Supply-driven price pressures have lowered the listings for certain green items in recent weeks. Supply and demand are now more closely aligned, however, keeping all green figures intact in this edition. Likewise, no changes are required to any kiln dried figures.

BEECH

CHERRY

With red appearances out of favor in North America, domestic sales of Cherry remain anemic. Solid consumer demand for this species drove increased purchasing by secondary wood products manufacturers in China earlier this summer, but interest has slowed over the last couple of months. Reductions in prior weeks across each producing region have all published green and kiln dried prices in order.

HICKORY

Residential flooring plants are sourcing sizeable volumes of #3A&Btr Hickory, responding to an uptick in finished goods sales amid an overall market environment that has been busier in the second half of the year thus far. The listings for #2B are raised across all thicknesses. US exports of Hickory lumber were down 22% year over year through July, with shipments lower each month thus far in 2026 than in the corresponding months in 2025.

HARD MAPLE

Hard Maple sales are slow across most grades in both green and kiln dried markets. Sales to cabinet manufacturers have been flat-to-lower over the last few weeks, while cabinet manufacturing operations report adequate lumber inventories for their current production levels. Amid tepid market conditions, reported prices continue to decline. The green 4/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f listings are reduced in both color designations, as are the listings for 5/4 through 8/4 #1C. Reported kiln dried prices are also retreating. Information is sufficient to lower the listings and noted ranges for 5/4 through 8/4 Fas and 4/4 #2A in each color classification. The high-end ranges for #1&2 White 4/4 #1C also lose ground.

SOFT MAPLE

This species appears frequently on sellers’ lists of slowest-moving items. According to one yard contact, “Soft Maple is a big concern for us and others in our area because it has been such a stalwart in the market, the best domestic item with the best margin for several years.” However, a sawmiller reports steady sales of #1C and #2A at stable prices, and that his previous concerns about rising inventories have waned with a regular customer wanting larger monthly volumes. Reported kiln dried prices support most existing listings and ranges. However, 5/4 Fas is the exception, with lower observed prices prompting decreases to the listings in each color sort. Meanwhile, the green 5/4 Fas&1f and 4/4 #1C listings are reduced in both color selections, as are the Unselected 4/4 Fas&1f figures.

#2&3A OAK

Oak strip flooring sales have gained more momentum, but more so for Red Oak than White Oak. Raw materials are available at stable prices. Truck trailer flooring producers are relatively less busy, with lumber inventories sufficient for current production rates. Concentration yards with export programs are being cautious with lumber purchase volumes and prices for Red Oak and White Oak. Healthy demand for pallet cants is helping to keep #2A&3A production controlled. No sector is having an outsized impact on demand or prices. Collectively, however, the sectors are absorbing total #2A&3A output at prices grouped around the listings. Similarly, no change is required to the listing for #2A Alone Red Oak.

RED OAK

Domestic Red Oak sales prices are holding up fairly well, whereas softening Chinese demand has pressured export prices lower in recent weeks. Some contacts say they are hearing price offers for kiln dried #1C&Btr well below the published figures. However, reductions in recent issues have all the listings and ranges in order. In green, the $20/MBF declines to the listings for 5/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f are reflective of transactional data.

WHITE OAK

Demand is better for White Oak than for several other species, based on how frequently it makes contacts’ best-seller lists. Mills are shipping total green production at prices consistent with the #3A&Btr listings. On the dry side, sales are stronger for Fas than for #1C and #2A. However, 4/4 Fas supplies are again outpacing decent demand, continuing the recent downward price trend that appeared to be over after the listings didn’t budge for nearly three months. Reported prices warrant reductions to the 4/4 Fas listings. Incoming reports also lower the listings and ranges for 4/4 #2A but hold all other kiln dried thickness and grade combinations steady.

POPLAR

Some concentration yards are finding it harder to procure Fas&1f Poplar. Meanwhile, #1C and #2A Poplar supplies are adequate to oversupplied, according to a large wood products manufacturer that also reports brisk finished goods sales, low finished goods inventories, and healthy monthly Poplar purchases. No changes are necessary for any green listings this week. At the same time, reported kiln dried prices are retreating for several items, requiring decreases to the listings and noted ranges for 4/4 #1C&Btr, 5/4 #1C&Btr, and 8/4 #1C.

WALNUT

Concentration yards have become somewhat more active with purchases of this species, coming off a slow period in mid-summer. Observed prices for green 4/4 and 5/4 Walnut items are mostly grouped around the published figures, as is also the case for 6/4 and 8/4 #1C and #2A. However, information reveals downward trending prices for thicker-stock items that lower the listings for 6/4 and 8/4 Fas&1f by $30/MBF and $50/MBF, respectively. Kiln dried 4/4 activity remains stronger for #2A than for #1C and Fas. Survey results lower the listings and ranges for 4/4 Fas, and the listings for 6/4 Fas also decline. Despite reported strength in #2A relative to the other grades, the 5/4 #2A listings and low-end ranges retreat amid lower reported prices.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Well air-dried framestock inventories are adequate to supply limited demand. Reported prices are mostly unchanged and keep the Oak and Mixed Species ranges in check.

Mills are readily shipping their full cant production. Many describe business as quite good. Gains in prior weeks are sufficient to hold the listing and range steady in this edition.

Demand for railroad ties lags in comparison with cants yet is stronger than for other low-grade items listed in weekly surveys. Markets are absorbing supplies that are still limited by quotas in many areas at prices within the 7x9 crosstie ranges.

Data centers drove all nonresidential construction spending growth in July, according to analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors. This lends support to anecdotal reports from industry contacts about the influence data center construction is having on demand for board road and crane mats. Current board road production levels are satisfying the market’s needs, however. Reported prices are well represented by the listing and range.

International Comments

GENERAL

Please see our graphs.