Northern Comments

GENERAL

Comments from November 28, 2025.

The longest US federal government shutdown on record is finally over. As a result, government-supplied economic and trade data are being released, including data on August hardwood exports. It was not a particularly good month for lumber exports, though shipments did advance to 94.2 million board feet (MMBF), up from 79.8 MMBF in July. Meanwhile, US exports of hardwood logs edged up from 27.1 MMBF in July to 27.9 MMBF in August. Looking at year-to-date volumes, exports of hardwood lumber and logs were down 11% and 14%, respectively, during the first eight months of 2025. A substantial percentage of lumber and logs exported from the US into Canada originate from the Northern region. US exports of hardwood lumber to Canada were down 18% on the year through August, with log shipments down 8%.

ASH

Reports about supply circumstances for Ash logs and green lumber vary widely. In areas where the Emerald Ash Borer has wreaked the most havoc, few logs are reaching sawmills and, in turn, very little lumber is flowing out of mills. “There is not much green Ash up here,” said one concentration yard owner. In other areas, Ash logs and lumber are still moving in decent quantities. All the while, total consumption in domestic and international markets is holding well below historical norms. The net result is that supply and demand are at or near equilibrium for the most commonly produced items. Green and kiln dried prices are well represented by the current listings and ranges.

ASPEN

Kiln dried markets are not yielding a lot of orders for this species. Still, contacts at drying operations that continue to handle Aspen indicate markets are absorbing all they have to offer. This is simply a matter of low demand but even lower supply. Buyers are showing more interest in Fas than #1C or #2A. Pricing information holds the 4/4 #2A&Btr figures in place. Circumstances are similar for green Aspen, with mills obtaining enough orders to cover the limited volumes being sawn. All the green listings are in order.

BASSWOOD

The last two weeks have brought scattered reports of increased activity for this species. In most cases, the additional business is coming from existing rather than new customers. Some sales operations do not have enough kiln dried Basswood on hand to fill these orders. All that said, it is not unusual to hear from other sellers that are having difficulty moving this species. Long-term relationships appear to be key though are not a guarantee of consistent sales. Pricing information obtained this week is little changed, allowing all the green and kiln dried figures to stand.

BEECH

BIRCH

Sawmills and downstream sales operations from Eastern Canada to the Upper Midwest are struggling to find sufficient outlets for this species. Although trade is not at a standstill, markets require far less than in the past. Producers are having more success moving Birch that meets Sap&Btr specifications than stock that is unselected for color. Likewise, 9-foot and longer Birch is much easier to sell than shorter-length material, especially in the upper grades. Avoidance of this species is widespread among loggers and mills, though is not always possible in the Northeast and Eastern Canada. Prices have a mostly downward bias, yet previous reductions have all the green and kiln dried listings and ranges in order.

HARD MAPLE

Markets for kiln dried 4/4 Fas Hard Maple regained momentum in the last 10 days, according to some sellers. “[We] moved a ton of uppers this week, bringing us into a very good position,” commented one such contact. This has not been the experience for all area sales operations, as some still have sizeable inventories. What most have in common, however, is brisk #1C and decent #2A business. Following upward and downward movement in recent weeks, depending on the items in question, no changes are warranted to any kiln dried Hard Maple prices in this issue. The same is true for most green listings, with some exceptions. The 4/4 #1C listings retreat in both color classifications along with Unselected 4/4 #2A and #3A.

SOFT MAPLE

This is arguably the bestselling species for Northern mills and yards at present. In conversations with HMR, several said they are struggling to keep up with demand, whether for green or kiln dried Soft Maple. Such comments apply more to #1C&Btr than #2A, though #2A moves well for some companies. In one notable change from early to mid-November reports, the upper grades are now moving as well as #1C, according to a number of market participants. Higher reported prices lift the green 4/4 #1C listings in both color designations. The kiln dried Sap&Btr 4/4 #2A figures also notch gains.

RED OAK

“Green lumber supply is declining,” commented the buyer for a large regional consumer of Red Oak surveyed this week. Contacts at concentration yards and other secondary manufacturing operations often echoed these remarks. Drying operations with export programs are showing a bit more interest in green #1C&Btr Red Oak but are sometimes encountering tight supplies. That is generally not the case for flooring plants when looking for #2A&3A, which are plentiful enough to meet buyers’ needs. Prices in reported and observed transactions keep all the green listings intact. Kiln dried Red Oak supplies are only marginally adequate to meet total demand from domestic and foreign markets, even though demand is only fair. Price adjustments made in prior weeks have all the published figures in order.

WHITE OAK

Demand for kiln dried White Oak is not particularly good from any one market at the moment, but its broad appeal across a range of North American and overseas markets is keeping lumber moving. Even so, prices continue to descend from the peak levels seen in recent years. This week, the 4/4 Fas listings and high end range numbers warrant reductions. Green #1C&Btr White Oak is selling at a decent clip to concentration yards. Shipments of #2A&3A to truck trailer flooring plants are slow, while shipments are steady to most residential flooring factories. The 4/4 Fas&Sel listings fall back, as do the 4/4 and 5/4 #2A&3A figures.

PALLET LUMBER, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD

Broadly speaking, this region does not have as many large wooden pallet manufacturers as areas further southward. Manufacturers surveyed for this issue describe demand for new pallets as flat or static. Most are consistently purchasing hardwood raw materials, even if they have ample inventories, due to an awareness that pallet cant and lumber production will decline in December. Prices showed little movement this week, allowing the pallet cants and both the selected width and random width pallet lumber listings and ranges to stand.

Most treatment facilities in the North are well stocked with 7x9 crossties. But, as with other industrial lumber users, they are maintaining consistent purchases in expectation of slower receipts during the weeks ahead. Prices for 7x9 crossties are consistent with the published range.

The board road listing and range register gains in this issue. Importantly, these bumps result not from increased activity but from higher prices in certain transactions amid very limited trading. Markets are by no means busy.