Comments from August 14, 2026.

Amid concerns about sawmill closures, the chilly #2A&3A Oak market, and freight rates rising again, comments about Ash have been a clear bright spot circulating among Southern hardwood contacts.

While the positive remarks began several weeks ago, reported prices are now bearing this out. For the first time in recorded HMR history for the region, green 4/4 Fas Ash hit $1,500 per thousand board feet this week. While not in record-breaking territory, demand and reported prices for kiln dried Ash have also advanced lately.

There are different factors at play in each of the three hardwood-producing regions, as well as different variations to the Ash that is cut, but it is important to note that the South is the area least impacted by the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). While sections of Arkansas and Texas have become infested in recent years, much of Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia remain EAB-free.

Overall, markets for green grade lumber remain slow in the South, and interest in industrial items is flat. Reduced international demand continues to impact the kiln dried market, with White Oak the hardest hit species.

ASH: Warm, dry weather continues in the region, providing little impediment to loggers cutting lowland species like Ash. Reported prices drive increases in all green #2A&Btr listings across all thicknesses. On the kiln dried side, the listings for both 4/4 and 8/4 Fas increase, accompanied by favorable reports about demand.

#2A&3A OAK: There is little energy in the #2A&3A Oak market. Residential flooring plants are not buying in significant volumes, and crosstie quotas across the region are ensuring the amount of lower-grade Oak available to purchase remains high. Contacts across the South, particularly west of the Mississippi River, report that truck trailer flooring plants are increasing purchases, but overall demand for #2A&3A Oak is flat. The #2A&3A Red and White Oak listings remain intact.

RED OAK: Markets for green and kiln dried Red Oak have flattened out, with reported prices leading to no changes for any grade or thickness this week. One Mississippi seller noted Red Oak is moving well, but comments across the South have been more muted of late. International demand for the species has taken a knock recently. Last week’s news that Turkey has barred all Oak imports is another small dent in interest from abroad.

WHITE OAK: Though it would be a stretch to classify interest in White Oak as poor, it is clear that supply is larger than demand in the South. The downturn in purchasing by the stave industry and international buyers has certainly made an impact. On the green side, reductions are made to the 5/4 Fas&1f and 4/4 through 8/4 #1C listings this week. “#1C is dead,” one Southern contact said. “We had to sell some at a dirty dog cheap price.” Kiln dried prices continue to fall. Information gathered this week drops the listings for 4/4 Fas, 4/4 #1C, 4/4 #2A, and 5/4 #1C. Except for 4/4 #2A, there are also decreases to either the low ends, high ends, or both ends of the ranges for these items.

PECAN & HICKORY: The market for Southern Pecan & Hickory is stable. Area secondary manufacturers are known to be buying the species, but not in numbers that are leading to any changes in published prices.

POPLAR: Supply and demand for both green and kiln dried Poplar are well balanced. Competitive prices for green 4/4 #1C can be found, but availability is mixed. A drawback in interest from international buyers, particularly from Vietnam, has cooled the kiln dried market. The only changes for either green or kiln dried Poplar this week are reductions to the lower ends of the ranges for 4/4 #1C dry stock.

BOARD ROAD, FRAMESTOCK, CANTS & TIES: Contacts continue to report to HMR/Fastmarkets that markets for Southern mat timbers, crane mats, and board road are busy, though the listing and range for board road are unmoved. The recent burst of framestock purchasing by secondary manufacturers in the South has plateaued, and there are no changes to the price ranges, either Oak or Mixed Species, in this edition.

Crosstie quotas are still in place on both sides of the Mississippi, though one Western contact is hopeful that his quota may loosen in the coming quarter. This week, tie ranges are unchanged. Since the tie downturn has boosted Southern cant production, the cant market in this region is lagging those in the Appalachian and Northern regions, leading to no changes to the listing or range.