National Hardwood Magazine - April 2024

LAKE STATES Continued
cold weather has not been good for logging conditions,”
he said. “Log supply is not good. I think we’ll see supply
issues down the road. Interest rates are affecting the RV
industry more than housing or anything else.”
A contact in Wisconsin said Hardwood market activity
is “pretty good. Market conditions are about the same as
the last quarter for us,” he commented. The source, who
specializes in most domestic Hardwoods both green and
kiln-dried noted White Oak as a popular item and Basswood
and Aspen as the slowest in species movement.
As for his customers’ immediate markets he said, “I
think domestically things are picking up a bit. I think exporting
will pick up as we move into the warmer months.”
He mentioned the pallet industry is experiencing some
tight conditions. “The biggest issue for the pallet industry
is random width, No. 3 Common lumber. The pallet industry
tightened up and that’s probably one of the most
difficult grades to make pallets from,” he commented.
Overall, the Hardwood supplier is confident in what is
ahead for the Hardwood industry. “Everything that I am
hearing is positive, we’re expecting things to pick up this
summer,” he said.
Pricing seems to be less of a concern than availabili-
ty of lumber for Hardwood suppliers in the Lake States.
With many expecting busier conditions by the summer,
shortages are expected at the log level. Most contacts
accounted for stable to active business conditions for the
current quarter. n
NORTHEAST Continued from page 10
while he sells his lower grade lumber to pallet, mat and
crosstie manufacturers. “Sales to my customers seem to
be doing well, except for a few spotted items here and
yonder,” he said, noting that his sales are looking better
than they were six months ago.
When asked how he thinks the next six months will
play out for him and his company, he said, “If we get
some nice weather and some dryer logging conditions, I
think that supply will out strip the demand.”
In Pennsylvania, a lumberman said that his market has
been stable. “I haven’t seen any upticks or down turns,”
he said. “Our sales are doing about the same so far in
2024 as they were at the end of 2023.”
His company mainly offers Red and White Oak, Hard
and Soft Maple and Cherry in 4/4 thickness and in grades
No. 3A and Better.
He said that he is currently selling to secondary manufacturers,
which include the kitchen and bath industry,
moulding and millwork manufacturers and some distribution
yards, as well as selling into the export market. He
also noted that he is able to supply lumber to his company’s
flooring plant.
“Sales have been steady and we haven’t seen a drop
in our export sales,” he said, noting that there hasn’t
been a major change since his domestic sales dropped
in 2023.
He added that he believes that overall the market will
remain calm and stable over the course of the next six
months.
In New York, a lumber spokesperson said that his
sales aren’t doing very well. “Between there not being
enough logs and the price of lumber, sales are just slow
right now,” he added.
He said that he is able to offer Hard and Soft Maple,
Cherry, Birch, Ash, Red Oak and some Hickory, as well
as white pine, in 4/4 thickness and in grades No. 2 Common
and Better.
“I sell to end users, wholesalers and lumber brokers,”
he said.
He did add that he is remaining hopeful that the market
and his sales will turn around for the better. n
SOUTHEAST Continued from page 11
He said that he markets to distribution centers, flooring
plants, end-users, such as, moulding, trim, door and window
casings and frame manufacturers. “My customers
don’t have orders coming in so they aren’t able to put
orders in with me for raw material,” he added.
“I can’t see my sales improving much over the next six
months. I’m always very optimistic, but reality has set in
and this seems to be how the market is going to play out
for a while.”
In Arkansas a lumberman said that it has been tough
to make his Hardwood sales. “The U.S. is not using
Hardwood and the trend is leaning towards paint grade
lumber. The Hardwood flooring has backed off due to
imports and Hardwood cabinets, flooring and furniture
aren’t popular right now,” he said.
His company offers Red and White Oak and Gum in
4/4 thickness and in all grades.
When asked what kinds of customers he sells to, he
said “I sell to good old customers, ones that have been
with me for a long time.” He mentioned that his customers
based out of Dallas are busy, just not with Hardwood
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APRIL 2024 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 73