Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from April 24, 2026.

Reports of freight costs doubling in the last six weeks have been common across the region despite the ceasefire between the US and Iran that was intact at the time of this writing. Accordingly, proximity to suppliers and customers has risen in importance, with companies throughout the supply chain trying to shorten freight hauls to mitigate the impacts of elevated diesel fuel prices.

Reports indicate log decks in the region are higher than in prior weeks, with drier weather cited as the main reason. About logs, a green sawmiller said, “Logging conditions are more favorable this spring than last, but there are fewer loggers working and fewer landowners wanting to harvest due to poor market conditions and lower prices [for their timber].”

Lumber sales continue to gain traction. One contact reported “wide-open” Chinese demand for certain items. “We are busy with both our export and domestic business,” another seller said. “Demand is inconsistent, but it is improving slowly.” Sawmills are having no issues moving Hickory production, and concentration yards are actively purchasing Red Oak, Cherry, and Ash to fill overseas orders. However, certain Hard Maple and White Oak items remain in excess supply. Hardwood flooring sales are picking up seasonally and remain stronger for Red Oak than White Oak. One flooring plant contact says its finished goods shipments in early April were the strongest for any week in roughly two years.

ASH

Ash sales are steady, with the species making neither the best-seller nor worst-seller lists. Green Ash availability is sufficient to meet the market’s needs, and all the listings hold steady at last week’s levels. Contacts reported solid demand for Ash from China. Reported prices warrant increases to the listings for kiln dried 5/4 Fas and the noted range figures for 8/4 Fas and 6/4 #1C.

BASSWOOD

BEECH

CHERRY

Changes to kiln dried Cherry prices have become less frequent in recent weeks. They have also been smaller in magnitude. However, exporters say Chinese demand for Cherry is still decent, and they expect that to continue, at least in the short-term. Higher reported prices advance the listings and ranges for 4/4 #1C and #2A in the North Central sub-region. Green prices gathered this week warrant no changes to the listings in either producing region. Less #1C Cherry is being sawn into railroad ties due to higher demand for lumber and lower demand for ties, according to market participants.

HICKORY

Myriad contacts indicate this species is drawing good interest. Flooring plants purchased slightly more Hickory in April than March, at higher prices. Supplies of 4/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f and 4/4 #1C are lagging demand, and those listings are raised. Strong interest carries over to the dry side, including for calico. Incoming price reports drive increases to the listings and ranges for 4/4 Fas and to the high-end ranges for 4/4 #1C.

HARD MAPLE

Sawmills are laboring harder to generate orders for their full green Hard Maple output, even though production has slowed from elevated levels in early 2026. Green prices observed this week reveal downward movement for 4/4 through 8/4 #1C, and the listings are lowered in both color designations. The #1&2 White 8/4 Fas&1f listings are also reduced. Cabinet and wood component manufacturers are steadily buying kiln dried Hard Maple, including decent volumes of brown material. Newly obtained pricing information is in line with the published #1&2 White and Unselected figures.

SOFT MAPLE

Industry contacts describe market conditions for Soft Maple in generally positive terms, though conditions are not as favorable as they were in late-2025. Supply and demand for most green items are balanced. However, 4/4 Fas&1f supplies outweigh demand in both color sorts, and downward price pressure warrants reductions to the listings. Kiln dried Sap&Btr and brown 4/4 Fas Soft Maple are among the fastest-selling items in the marketplace, according to recent responses to weekly surveys. Reported price gains require increases to the listings for 6/4 Fas and low-end ranges for 5/4 Fas in both color classifications.

#2&3A OAK

Purchases of 4/4 #2A&3A Red Oak and White Oak increased marginally for many residential flooring plants in April, with more substantial gains at some other plants. Monthly volumes heading to truck trailer flooring plants have been mixed in 2026, and contacts clearly identify the truck trailer flooring sector as the weaker market among the two. The uptick in Red Oak residential flooring sales and accompanying need for more raw material is absorbing additional green supplies entering the marketplace. Purchase prices for both species across both sectors are mostly steady, keeping all #2A&3A listings intact in this edition. The 4/4 #2A Alone Red Oak figure is similarly unchanged.

RED OAK

Together, gradually increasing domestic business and exports to countries outside the Middle East are keeping kiln dried inventories in check. Fas and #1C are the strongest grades. Transactions show stable pricing for Fas, allowing the published figures to stand. However, reported #1C prices are edging up, resulting in gains to the listings and ranges for 4/4 #1C and the high-end ranges for 8/4 #1C. Sawmill production of this species has picked up and volumes entering the marketplace are meeting buyers’ needs. The only exceptions are 8/4 Fas&1f; supply slightly outweighs demand and the listings are reduced.

WHITE OAK

Just when it appeared White Oak prices had found their floor, newly gathered information reveals further downward pressure, as reflected in decreases to the listings for green 4/4 Fas&1f and 5/4 #1C&Btr. Sawmills had shifted more production to 5/4, attempting to better control inventories of 4/4 while meeting rising concentration yard interest in 5/4. Yet, supplies of each thickness are readily available. Kiln dried business is steady, but information necessitates reductions to the 4/4 #1C listings and ranges and the low ends of the 4/4 Fas ranges. Despite reports of shortages of 6/4 stock and brisk sales of 6/4 #1C, in particular, the published figures remain intact. Contacts report no improvement in demand for 7-foot and 8-foot White Oak items. Thus, two-tiered pricing continues: shorter-length items remain a tough sell, even at prices at least $400/MBF less than longer lengths.

POPLAR

Regional sawmill operators indicate Poplar log decks are adequate or ample compared with the weather-related log shortages at this time last year. Fas is the bestselling grade, especially in domestic markets, while demand for the common grades is tepid from Asian markets. Transactions keep most Poplar figures unchanged. That said, lower prices in reported transactions drive reductions to the green 8/4 Fas&1f and kiln dried 5/4 #1C listings.

WALNUT

Green Walnut supplies are aligned with the market’s needs and have been for several weeks, representing a shift in market complexion from when scarcity in the second half of 2025 and early 2026 pushed prices higher. Current printed prices accurately reflect recently reported green prices. In kiln dried, the common grades are moving better than Fas. However, the only changes lift the high-end ranges for 4/4 #2A.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Framestock business remains anemic. Supplies are adequate to satisfy limited demand. Drying times are quickening with warmer weather, which could increase on-hand inventories. At present, reported prices are within the Oak and Mixed Species ranges.

Overall supply and demand for pallet cants are balanced at present. Prices are holding at the listing or within the range. However, some contacts state pallet lumber is amply supplied as demand is slowing.

Treating operations entered 2026 with large crosstie inventories, and that remains the case through late-April. Easing in certain transactions in the Southern Appalachian area is sufficient to reduce the high end of the range.

No changes in board road markets are evident in the Appalachian region. Activity remains slow, and prices in observed business are flat.

International Comments

GENERAL

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