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

Lumber Forecasts For 2024
Despite The Challenges That 2023 Brought There Is
Hope Going Into 2024
By Cadance Hanson
While looking back at how the hardwood market fared throughout 2023,
lumber providers came to a general consensus that while this year posed its
challenges, it was a profitable year nonetheless. One participant stated, “2023 was
definitely not the year we wanted but we were able to be profitable.”
Another participant said, “2023 has exceeded our expectations, 2024 has a
similar uncertainty to last year’s planning due to geopolitical and economic conditions.”
Participants also shared their concerns over how tariffs and the European
Union’s new regulations will affect sales in the coming year, with one stating,
“The EU regulations that are on the table pose a very significant threat to exporters
and all lumber producers in the U.S.A.”
Eric Porter
Abenaki Timber Corporation
Kingston, NH
2023 was a challenging year. I would say it was
successful in footage produced and shipped but the
invoice values were way down due to the rapid drop
in kiln-dried prices. Our sales in dollar value will
be down from 2022 but we were able to keep our
market share in overall footage produced and sold.
We serve a variety of manufacturers, distribution
Eric Porter yards, wholesalers, brokers and the export markets
worldwide. I would not be able to single out any
sector that was better than another.
Abenaki still produces the native American hardwood species found in the
Northeast and Appalachian regions as well as importing European Beech and
some European Oak.
We did do some control updating at both of our facilities and replaced some
rolling stock but no new major equipment was added in 2023.
Our key employees have proven
reliable and consistent throughout
the year. If we could add one or
two at each facility, we wouldn’t
hesitate to do so.
Shipping was a major improvement
in 2023 over 2022.
We are more concerned as a
company with the implied certification
regulations that Europe is
adding than we are with any tariffs
currently.
Brandon Clark
Brandon Clark
Clark Lumber Company
Red Boiling Springs, TN
2023 was definitely not the year
we wanted but we were able to be
profitable. The hardest part of 2023
was the inventory adjustments
early in the year. It took several
months of production to overcome
the pricing adjustments.
In order to be successful, 2024
needs to have steady demand for
all production items and price stability
and hopefully a small price
increase would be best.
Our grade lumber sales to distribution
yards were strong, as well
as our sales to moulding manufacturers,
while our sales to flooring
manufacturers was average. The
pallet cant sales to the main line
railroads was strong, while our
sales to the small treatment plants
was average, yet sporadic. All of
Continued on page 32
The Canadian Hardwood Bureau
(CHB) recently held its 2023
Fall Meeting in Louisville, KY, in
conjunction with the NHLA Convention.
Chairman Shaun Rowe, of
Quality Hardwoods Ltd., welcomed
delegates and lead the informative
session.
The guest speaker was Geoff
Webb, Dean of NHLA’s Inspector
Training School, who outlined
NHLA’s Apprenticeship Program
and noted that Class 1 graduated
from Inspector Training School in
1948. There is today an increased
emphasis on "Trades." The program
includes a contract between
the employer and apprentice and
featured structured pay increases
during Apprenticeship. The NHLA
program is 2,000 hours and 300
of Relevant Technical Instruction,
which includes 144 hours of classroom
instruction. The program is
currently registered in Tennessee
and the paperwork is submitted in
Pennsylvania. They expect to register
in Michigan and Arkansas and
other states as requested.
Allison DeFord, executive director
of the North American Forest
Foundation (NAFF), addressed the
meeting to spread the word about
the Back to School with NAFF
fundraiser. NAFF was working to
raise the remaining amounts with
their matching sponsor’s contributions
in an effort to be able to
educate 75,000 students about sustainable
forestry. They have a keen
interest to send education kits to
schools in Canada.
Chairman Rowe reported that
since the Bureau’s very successful
meeting back in May, it has been
doing some training and held an English-language
hardwood grading
short course in mid-May in Ontario.
It was sold out with almost 30 people
enrolled. The practical portion
Continued on page 29
Canadian Hardwood Bureau Embraces Educational Programs
Bill Miller, Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve Ltd., Haliburton, ON; Allison De-
Ford, North American Forest Foundation, Collierville, TN; Bob Rutledge, Haliburton
Forest & Wildlife Reserve Ltd.; and Philippe LeBlanc, Lumber Resources Inc.,
Quebec City, QC
Photos By Terry Miller
Brian Guilbeault, Quality Hardwoods Ltd., Powassan, ON; Richard Lipman,
Canadian Hardwood Bureau, Ottawa, ON; Shaun Rowe, Quality Hardwoods Ltd.;
Mike Penner, Townsend Lumber Inc., Tillsonburg, ON; and Geoff Webb, NHLA,
Memphis, TN
Additional photos on page 20
GET A KICK.
Improving your bottom line is our goal line. That’s why we quote fairly and
deliver hardwood to maximize quality and help minimize waste. We also offer
mixed species and sizing with J.I.T. shipments to reduce inventory costs.
And those just two of our plays.
CALL COLE TODAY. WE’RE ON YOUR TEAM.
Hardwood Lumber for Furniture • Flooring • Cabinets • Molding/Millwork
Get a Quote Call 1-800-536-3151 or Visit colehardwood.com
Page 6 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n December 2023/January 2024
Wholesale/Wholesale Distributor Special Buying Issue Page 57
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