MyReport                                                 

Appalachian Comments

GENERAL

Comments from August 7, 2026

Contacts report level log supplies amid fair-to-slower green and kiln dried lumber sales. Though inventories of certain items are rising, contacts say they are not at worrisome levels. Producers report an uptick in activity for Walnut and for rift and quartered White Oak this week. However, some are taking lower prices to keep Red Oak, Soft Maple, Hard Maple, and Cherry moving and cash flowing. Grade lumber sales are strongest to the distribution yard and moulding/millwork sectors. The pallet sector is the busiest industrial market and is readily absorbing cant production. Weariness over the ongoing impacts of the war against Iran on fuel and freight costs is evident in weekly conversations with regional contacts. “We all eat higher freight costs for a while, and then we all get tired of eating them,” said one longtime sawmiller, referring to the squeeze on already thin profits.

ASH

A number of mills have stopped processing Ash due to resource scarcity and, in some cases, log quality issues that result in a larger-than-anticipated share of the log ending up as low-grade material. For mills that are cutting this species, demand for green stocks is readily absorbing total production. Reported green prices hold the listings in check. International sales are keeping kiln dried Ash moving more so than domestic sales. Information lifts the high-end ranges for 4/4 Fas Ash but keeps all other figures unchanged.

BASSWOOD

Basswood inventories are limited yet sufficient for the market’s needs, with interior fittings and furnishings manufacturers running at typical levels and requiring usual lumber volumes. Reported green and kiln dried prices are in line with the published figures.

BEECH

CHERRY

Cherry sales to China have slowed from strong levels, which is not unusual in the summer. The effects of declining Chinese demand are starting to work their way through the supply chain. Some exporters are reducing selling prices for certain items to keep their production moving; others report rising Cherry inventories. The kiln dried 5/4 Fas listings are reduced in both producing regions, and the listings and ranges for 4/4 #2A fall back in the North Central subregion. Information warrants no changes to any green Cherry figures.

HICKORY

Sawmills are having no difficulty generating orders for this species. Multiple mills report stable prices for green production; prior increases have all the green listings in order. End users are enjoying decent sales of Hickory finished goods, particularly flooring plants. Mexico remains the largest global market for Hickory, followed by China. However, exports were lower each of the first five months of 2026 relative to the same months a year ago, resulting in a 20% year-over-year decline through May. Kiln dried 4/4 #1C prices have upward momentum, prompting increases to the listings.

HARD MAPLE

Markets that purchase and process green Hard Maple tend to stockpile inventory during cool months and curb purchasing in the summer. That was not the case last summer, when demand for this species outpaced production. However, buyers have curbed purchasing this summer amid soft demand. Some sellers state they are covered up with kiln dried 4/4 Fas, while #1C inventories are somewhat higher but manageable. All of this week’s changes impact the upper grades; the listings for green 4/4 Fas&1f and for kiln dried 5/4 and 8/4 Fas are lowered in each color sort.

SOFT MAPLE

Brown Soft Maple moves well, regardless of thickness or grade, according to contacts. However, sales of Sap&Btr and Unselected stock are difficult, even at discounted prices. As with its counterpart, Hard Maple, Fas is the weakest Soft Maple grade. Observed prices lower the green 4/4 Fas&1f and kiln dried 4/4 Fas and 5/4 #1C listings and noted range numbers in both color classifications.

#2&3A OAK

Demand for 4/4 #2A&3A Red and White Oak from the residential wood and truck trailer flooring industries is flat to lower, representing somewhat of a downshift for the residential side but no change for the truck trailer sector. Meanwhile, concentration yards are curtailing receipts of #2A in response to lower Chinese and Vietnamese demand. Tie markets are not actively competing for similar material. The total demand pull on #2A&3A Red Oak is absorbing production, keeping those prices as well as the 4/4 #2A Alone price unchanged for an eighth consecutive week. However, supplies of #2A&3A White Oak exceed demand, as residential flooring plants are having a tougher time moving White Oak than Red Oak finished goods. Reported prices have a downward bias that lowers the 4/4 through 6/4 #2A&3A White Oak listings for the first time since early May.

RED OAK

Kiln dried thick stock #1C&Btr Red Oak moves okay at decent prices, suggesting sellers have found alternative markets for lumber that would typically move to the Middle East if not for shipping woes caused by the US war against Iran. Conversely, some exporters have had loads of 4/4 canceled while containers were on the water, and some are lowering 4/4 #1C&Btr prices to obtain orders. Downward pressure is most evident in kiln dried 4/4 Fas prices and reduces the listings. Contacts report fair demand for 4/4 #2A, at stable prices, with purchasing by residential and truck trailer flooring plants preventing excessive throughput to the dry side. The only changes to green Red Oak lower the listings for 4/4 and 6/4 Fas&1f.

WHITE OAK

Reports about kiln dried White Oak business are mixed. Roughly as many contacts list White Oak as a best-seller as list it as a worst-seller, with more positivity for #2A than for #1C&Btr. The listings and noted ranges for 4/4 and 5/4 #1C are lowered. However, sales contacts note increased interest in thick White Oak. Strength is evident in reported 6/4 Fas prices, prompting increases of $80 per thousand board feet ($/MBF) to the listings. In green, the 4/4 through 6/4 #2A&3A listings retreat, as supplies outweigh demand. Contacts report renewed interest in rift and quartersawn White Oak.

POPLAR

Reports from sellers and buyers range from Poplar supplies being balanced with or exceeding the market’s needs. Many sales operations are moving typical volumes, though some state that more work is required to make it happen. Prices obtained this week keep all the green listings intact. However, prices in observed kiln dried transactions warrant increases to the low ends of the 4/4 #1C ranges and high ends of the 6/4 #2A ranges.

WALNUT

Contacts report little change in market direction for green Walnut this week. Interest remains stronger for the common grades than for uppers. All printed green figures reflect equilibrium between supply and demand. Production of thick lumber from US Walnut logs has been climbing in China and Vietnam, competing against lumber sawn in the US. However, reported prices for several thick kiln dried Walnut items have nevertheless jumped, necessitating increases to the listings and ranges for 6/4 Fas, 8/4 Fas, and 8/4 #2A. Significant differences in demand and pricing continue based on grading rules, color sorts, and lengths.

FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Framestock supplies are meeting buyer’s recently improving but still limited needs. Reported prices warrant no changes to the range figures for Oak and Mixed Species framestock.

Pallet cants are currently the strongest selling industrial item, with markets accepting the higher production that has resulted from mills seeking outlets for log-center material that isn’t moving to tie yards. The listing and high end of the cant range are unchanged, but the low end is reduced to better encompass reported prices.

Tie markets are largely unchanged. Treaters aren’t pursuing additional volumes because on-hand inventories remain elevated. Reported prices hold the ranges for 7x9 crossties steady in each subregion.

One contact said board road sales have slowed from strong levels, while another noted steady demand. Newly reported transactions hold the range steady but lift the listing $10/MBF to more accurately reflect market conditions.

International Comments

GENERAL

Please see our graphs.