Import/Export Wood Purchasing News - December 2023/January 2024

HOUSTON HARDWOOD - Continued from page 26
Houston Hardwoods continues to fit the niche it found in providing superior
service and quality products, with what may be the best balance of hardwood
species and industry experience.
McCoy, “and then we leave the other machine set up for S4S lumber. That saves
us a lot of time and makes us much more efficient than if we were just using one
machine for everything.”
Houston Hardwoods procures its kiln-dried domestic lumber from sawmills all
over the country. “We try to get some of our species like Oak and Poplar from
sources that are closer to home to avoid high freight/transportation costs,” said
Houston Hardwoods’ mill area.
According to McCoy, most of the firm’s customers during the week are professionals,
cabinet shops, contractors, furniture builders and other lumber yards that
do not deal in hardwoods. The company also caters to a number of DIY hobbyists
and woodworkers. “We call them weekend warriors; they go crazy when they
CHB MEETING - Continued from page 7
was to be held at Ontario Hardwood Products in Bolton. CHB held its first-ever
French-language short course recently in Drummondville, QC, at Goodfellow Inc.
Chairman Rowe spoke about the CHB’s successful Promotions Program, which
aims at the great story of CHB, which resonates with consumers. The goal of the
program is to tell the story of Canadian hardwood as a beautiful, durable, and sustainable
interior building material to as many consumers as possible. For a second
straight year, CHB secured partial funding and directed efforts at export markets,
specifically the U.S. designers and architects, who will promote the Bureau's story
to homeowners and commercial end users. CHB is completing two years of
webinars that have been included in educational events dealing with specifying
wood products; commercial (retail, offices and mixed use), healthcare; building
green: products that support sustainable design; hospitality (hotel, restaurant etc.);
education (school, college, university); interior finishes and commercial solutions;
and institutional and government etc. Members asked about undertaking domestic
promotion as well and that will be studied and brought back to the members at the
next meeting in April.
Learn more at www.canadianhardwoodbureau.com. n
GBM MEETING - Continued from page 8
tects and industry members, as well as a series of Demonstration Workshops on
the tradeshow stage Friday. These activities were well received by both the architect
community and participating exhibitors. This year, BC Wood’s WoodTALKS
at the GBM also featured a Mass & Heavy Timber Symposium with keynote
speaker Michael Green, which was officially opened by BC’s Minister of State for
Trade, the Honorable Jagrup Brar.
Canadian products on display from across the country included timber frame
structures, engineered wood products, treated lumber, reclaimed wood, cabinetry,
building products and systems, Western Red Cedar products, and a variety of
other value-added wood building products.
BC Wood also organized Extended Mission programs for incoming international
delegates that included site visits and factory tours in the lower mainland and
on Vancouver Island. Besides helping buyers immediately source high quality,
innovative, and competitively priced wood products, the tours helped build future
business relationships by familiarizing potential customers with Western Canada’s
wood species.
Held annually at the Whistler Conference Centre, the GBM continues to be Canada’s
largest event dedicated to promoting value-added wood producers.
BC Wood extended many thanks also to its government funding Partners, who
without their continued support, the organization would not be able to deliver this
world class event: Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. (FII), and Global Affairs
Canada (GAC). Main corporate sponsors this year included San Group Ltd., the
Waldun Group, Daizen, Glandell Enterprises, Silva Panel, Acera Insurance, Live
Edge Design and Kuehne + Nagel.
Learn more at www.bcwood.com. n
AHEC SE ASIA - Continued from page 23
timber-related industries and convey our environmental protection approach
to a greater audience. We will be promoting the design and application of U.S.
hardwood for the consumer market while addressing low carbon environmental
protection, outstanding properties and design advantages of American hardwoods
to furniture manufacturers, architects, interior designers, engineers and real estate
developers."
At this Convention, several keynote presentations were featured, including the
application, sustainability and lower carbon future of American hardwood for
interior design and furniture manufacturing, new technology and lumber grading
rules of American hardwoods.
The head of the Chengdu Furniture Industrial Chamber of Commerce also
presented an update on Sichuan province’s solid furniture manufacturing situation
and the needs of imported timber to meet the increasing demand in the years to
come.
Hosted by AHEC and supported by the Chengdu Furniture Association,
Continued on page 37
Houston Hardwoods is a full-blown manufacturing facility that specializes in
planing wood and producing custom moulding.
Houston Hardwoods purchases more than 600,000 board feet of hardwoods
annually in Alder, Ash, Cherry, Maple, Red and White Oak, Walnut, Birch,
Pecan, Poplar and many more species.
LAKE STATES BUSINESS TRENDS - Continued from page 15
industry.
“It seemed like they were ticking down in the summer,” he said. “But now
they’ve bopped back up there. It doesn’t look like there is any end in sight.” n
them to have picked up by now,” he said. “My agents in Europe are of course
having a hard time with the war and the increase in energy costs.”
He mentioned that he is happy with his Red Oak sales. “Red Oak is a specie
that I have always thought of as a more domestic item, but I have noticed that it
has started to sell more abroad with more countries starting to buy it.” n
McCoy. “Some of the other species like Maple and Walnut we usually try to get
from sources further north due to the higher quality of those woods in that area of
the country.”
The company has maintained its focus on one of its biggest strengths: being
able to turnaround orders in one to two days. Its customers – most of which are
located within 100 miles of Houston – appreciate the quick turnaround time and
the fact that quality is never sacrificed in lieu of speed. While most of its customers
are in Texas, Houston Hardwoods does ship orders to clients in other parts
of the country. “We are often surprised by where people call from, but we don’t
argue. We get the order done and ship it out.”
Houston Hardwoods procures its kiln-dried domestic lumber from sawmills
all over the country.
Houston Hardwoods, located in Houston, TX, operates from a
50,000-square-foot facility with about 18 employees.
come in here and see our extensive selection,” said McCoy. “This is a customer
segment that helps to round out our client base and gives us the opportunity to
work with smaller, locally-based wood workers.”
Houston Hardwoods is a member of the Lumbermen’s Association of Texas &
Greater Louisiana and the Greater Houston Lumber & Building Materials Association.
McCoy added, “We’re constantly exploring new ways to have the best
product and service possible because keeping our customers happy has definitely
been the key to our success.”
For more information, visit www.houstonhardwoods.com. n
NORTHEAST BUSINESS TRENDS - Continued from page 15
He mentioned that he owns a trucking company as well that hauls all of his
sawmill’s lumber, from the time that the timber is cut to when it is shipped
out. “The cost of fuel has affected our sales with how high the price of fuel has
gotten.”
A lumberman in New York said that his market seems to be fair. “We are able
to move everything that we saw,” he said. “Pallet cants have been a challenge, but
as far as the grade lumber we are able to move it, even if the prices aren’t what
we want them to be.”
He noted that his sales are about the same as they were six months ago, with it
being a challenge then and a challenge now.
His company offers Hard and Soft Maple and Cherry in 4/4 thickness and in
grades No. 2 Common and Better. “Cherry seems to be easy to sell even though
the price is off,” he mentioned.
He said that he sells to a wide range of customers, including wholesalers and
end users. “They haven’t said anything good about their sales to me lately,” he
added.
In Connecticut a lumber representative said that his market is slow. “Our sales
are worse than they were six months ago,” he added.
His company handles Red and White Oak, Poplar and Ash, and occasionally
sells some Cherry and Hard Maple. “We mainly offer the upper grades, FAS and
No. 1 Common and very little No. 2 Common, we offer these in 4/4 thickness and
in theory we handle 4, 5, 6 and 8/4 as well,” he said.
The majority of the customers that he sells to are importers and distributors, he
noted that he will occasionally sell directly to end users depending on the market.
“We typically use agents in other countries and my agents in the Middle East are
telling me that their sales are still slow despite the fact that they were expecting
SOUTHEAST BUSINESS TRENDS - Continued from page 17
wasn’t doing well, at the time of this writing.
“We are just hanging in there and hoping that the market gets better,” he added.
A lumber representative in Arkansas said that his sales have been sporadic.
“There is definitely less production and there are less opportunities for orders,”
he remarked. “It seems that there are less people that want to haul hardwood logs
and both green and kiln-dried lumber production have slowed down.”
He mentioned that his sales are doing about the same as they were six months
ago when asked.
His company offers primarily all hardwood species, with a focus on Oak and
mixed hardwoods. “We offer grades FAS Common and No. 2 Common and 4/4
and 5/4 thicknesses,” he said.
His company sells to end use manufacturers, distribution yards and exporters.
“It seems that they are also experiencing sporadic sales,” he said. “They will
have a couple of good days and then they have a few days where there isn’t a lot
happening.” n
WEST COAST BUSINESS TRENDS - Continued from page 17
the Whitewoods, such as the Maples and Walnut. Walnut may not be as bad but
with White Oak we have all of the barrel companies that buy up products for their
whiskey barrels. They are paying more of a premium than what people want to
pay for a sawlog. They are willing to pay more to get the White Oak for the barrels.
That’s why there’s a shortage right now and it will probably get tighter.”
Another contact in California said fuel costs are a major issue and trucking in
general is challenging in his area. “Trucks aren’t allowed to come into certain
parts of California,” he explained. “We have restricted freight coming in by truck
Continued on page 30
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