Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from April 10, 2026.

Business activity has slight upward momentum that contacts say would be even stronger if not for the impacts the war against Iran is having on the US economy and global uncertainty. “Increasing fuel and shipping costs mean less profit for us,” a longtime sawmiller said; “It hits on both ends: logging and shipping.” Another exporter said trucking companies have raised their fuel surcharges 20%. Last week, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta downwardly revised its Q1 2026 GDP forecast, predicting a 1.6% growth rate, indicating a slowing but still positive pace. Prior to the war, which started on February 28, it was forecasting 3.0% GDP growth in Q1.

Wet weather conditions are impacting logging activity and log receipts in some parts of the region, though mills in drier areas are flush with logs. Concentration yard contacts say green lumber is readily available, but they are closely monitoring receipts, with some customers purchasing decent volumes while others remain in wait-and-see mode. That said, the phrases “purchasing as needed” and “just-in-time shipments” seemingly haven’t been uttered as much this spring as last. Prices remain largely supply driven, but buyers are paying premiums for specialty products and for some longer-length items.

ASH

Resource scarcity caused by the Emerald Ash Borer provides somewhat of a natural barrier to overproduction. Ash is moving in all grades and thicknesses as it is produced, mainly to concentration yards and eventually to export markets. All the green listings hold, while the only changes to the kiln dried figures lift the listings and ranges for 6/4 Fas.

BASSWOOD

Green supplies match the market’s limited needs and all the published figures are held in check. Kiln dried markets are slow but reported prices do not warrant changes to any listings or ranges.

BEECH

CHERRY

Domestic secondary wood products manufacturers don’t have much interest in this species and haven’t for years, leaving demand and prices overwhelmingly subject to the health of Chinese markets. Sawmills and drying operations are consistently processing Cherry because Chinese demand is still decent after downshifting from strong levels in late-2025. The green listings in both producing regions are representative of information reported this week. Meanwhile, the listings and noted ranges for kiln dried 4/4 #1C&Btr, 8/4 Fas, and 4/4 #2A are raised in the Appalachian area.

HICKORY

Mills are sawing their Hickory logs ahead of warmer weather that increases the potential for staining. Markets are readily absorbing the additional green production, keeping all the green figures intact. Transactions show strong upward price momentum for kiln dried 4/4 #1C&Btr, resulting in gains to the listings and ranges. Calico Hickory—known for its blend of white sapwood and reddish-brown heartwood and often used in the flooring, cabinet, and furniture sectors—is in tight supply in all 4/4 grades, according to a large cabinet door manufacturer.

HARD MAPLE

Hard Maple production increased in winter, and demand initially kept pace with mill output. Demand has since fallen, with supplies of green Fas&1f exceeding the market’s needs. Reported prices lower the listings for #1&2 White 4/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f. Kiln dried inventories have thinned out and are now aligned with demand in both color designations. No changes are made to kiln dried figures.

SOFT MAPLE

Soft Maple output typically rises this time of year as producers hedge against staining caused by rising temperatures. Green markets are adequately supplied with Fas&1f but remain slightly oversupplied with Sap&Btr 4/4 #1C, prompting a reduction to the listing. Reported kiln dried #1C and #2A prices across all thicknesses haven’t changed much, and the published figures carry over from a week ago. However, kiln dried Fas prices have an upward bias, aligning with survey comments that Fas is the best-selling grade. Information warrants increases to the listings for 5/4 Fas and noted ranges for 4/4 and 8/4 Fas in the Sap&Btr color classification.

#2&3A OAK

Sales of #2A&3A Red Oak to residential flooring plants have picked up in response to seasonally strong demand and consumer preferences for Red Oak over White Oak. Sawmill production has also increased, making flooring-grade Oak readily available. Prices continue to respond to the combination of supply and demand pressures. To better reflect prices in observed transactions, the green 4/4 #3A Red Oak listing is reduced. No changes are warranted to the #2A Alone listing or the listings for #2A&3A Red Oak in the thicker stocks. Information holds the listings steady for 4/4 #2A&3A White Oak, despite the demand shift away from this species in the residential flooring sector. The listings for 5/4 and 6/4 #2A&3A are similarly unchanged.

RED OAK

Though residential flooring plants are absorbing sizeable quantities of 4/4 #2A&3A Red Oak and some #1C as well, producer order files are not ample enough to move full production of certain items. Lower reported prices are evident, resulting in declines to the listings for green 4/4 #1C and #3A. The listings for 5/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f also edge lower. This week brought reports of somewhat slower demand for kiln dried Red Oak, caused partly by the war in Iran that has elevated shipping risks and costs in the region. To that end, an export sales manager said, “Red Oak exports to MENA have slowed or are delayed due to the war. Other than that, Red Oak is shipping out every day to other markets.” Chinese purchasing of this species remains decent. Meanwhile, domestic activity for Red Oak is busier but is not robust. Information raises the listings for 6/4 Fas, but all the other kiln dried figures are unchanged.

WHITE OAK

Producers have decent order files for kiln dried nine-foot and longer #1C&Btr White Oak. Sales of shorter stock remain slow, with price discounting doing little to move the sales needle in a positive direction. Random width and length #1C is the weakest it has been for a while. Lower reported numbers continue to come in, prompting this week’s reductions to the 4/4 #1C listings and high-end ranges. Some contacts are lowering Fas prices to generate sales, but no changes to the Fas figures are warranted in this edition. Prior reductions on the green side have all the listings in check.

POPLAR

Reports indicate softness in green Fas&1f prices, and the 6/4 through 16/4 listings are lowered. Meanwhile, the remaining green figures are representative of observed activity. Kiln dried Poplar is moving at a decent pace to domestic and international markets. In the US, shipments are decent to distributors, including to one who states: “We have a good amount coming in and going out.” Sales are also brisk to millwork and component operations. While demand for Poplar from Asia’s furniture manufacturing sector is not strong, it is good enough to keep typical monthly volumes moving there for certain exporting sawmills and yards, at stable prices. The only kiln dried changes lift the high-end ranges for 8/4 #2A.

WALNUT

Green Walnut lumber availability has increased relative to the market’s needs, prompting reductions to the listings for 4/4 through 5/4 #1C&Btr and to all #2A figures. Demand for many kiln dried items has slowed from previously strong levels. Still, one supplier said he can still move all the kiln dried Walnut he makes. Reported prices keep all the published listings and ranges intact.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Markets for well air dried Oak and Mixed Species frame stock are unchanged, remaining slow. Production, accordingly, is low. Reported transactions are few but reflect stable pricing.

Pallet cant business is steady enough to keep developing supplies shipped and prices firm. Wood pallet manufacturers are reporting mostly steady pallet sales and adequate finished goods inventories.

Crosstie purchasing remains at replacement levels. Reported prices warrant no changes to the ranges in either subregion. Demand is holding up relatively well for switch ties compared to crossties, but more mills are equipped for sawing the latter than the former.

Board road supplies are meeting buyers’ current needs. Price reports hold the listing and range in check.

International Comments

GENERAL

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