Comments from June 19, 2026.

Illness and absenteeism kept Oak flooring production below desired levels in May at one plant. Severe lightning storms temporarily interrupted production at a second factory, while output at a third has remained low since it eliminated a shift in early spring.

While production slipped in May, factory shipment rose. US manufacturers’ shipments of solid wood flooring rose 6.4% in May from April, according to the final estimate by HMR/Fastmarkets, based on extensive industry surveys. One contact who reported low double-digit percentage growth in May shipments commented, “It finally feels like spring.” Elevated freight rates and booking cancellations by carriers hampered shipments at times, yet slightly more product shipped to distributors in May than April.

Ongoing price concessions are helping residential flooring plants move Sel&Btr White Oak flooring. Information lowers the listing for Southern 2¼” Sel&Btr White Oak and the associated range figures, while the only changes for 3¼” Sel&Btr White Oak lower both ends of the range. This week’s largest increase occurs to the Southern 3¼” Sel&Btr Red Oak listing. Reports also warrant gains to all 2¼” No. 1Com White Oak figures and an increase to the low-end range for 2¼” Sel&Btr Red Oak. Conversely, the Appalachian listing and the low end of the range for 2¼” No. 2Com White Oak decline. Finally, the Appalachian 3¼” No. 1Com Red Oak listing falls again.

Manufacturers generally aren’t comfortable enough with current market conditions to aggressively pursue flooring-grade lumber beyond short-term needs. Some plants have excess White Oak lumber inventories despite attempts to control receipts by offering below-market prices.

In some past summers, the combination of strong Oak flooring demand and concerns about raw material shortages prompted a rush of lumber purchases ahead of the July 4th holiday period. Some plants even accepted receipts 24/7 over the mid-year holiday while the hum of machinery inside plants was quiet. This, however, is not one of those summers. Many plants that only closed on July 4th in the past are taking the entire three-day holiday weekend off this year. Others are weighing decisions about taking extra days off to reduce lumber inventories and to prevent accumulating additional stocks of finished goods.