The market for hardwood lumber in the Northeast is in positive territory. A Pennsylvania source said, “The market has been good as of late. It’s unpredictable, but it’s good. We’re starting to see some prices increase slowly. And there’s demand, but we’re just not sure where the next demand’s coming from right now.”
He said the market has picked up from six months earlier. “When COVID happened,” the source noted, “the domestic market fell by the wayside but the export picked up. Things were in quite a bit of change at that time with everyone trying to find where the market was. This market is quite different. It’s better than it was six months ago, but it’s really hard to describe where we’re at right now. Right now, we’re seeing more interest in our exports to Asia. Their economy is slow. It’s hard to predict what’s going on, but the domestic market is picking up slightly here from what we’re seeing, especially the small shops. For the small shops, it’s the best business they’ve had in years.”
The source provides Red Oak, Cherry, Red Leaf Soft Maple, Hickory, Hard Maple, Poplar and Ash, mainly in Common and Better. Customers include cabinet shops and distributors. “Their sales are doing well, as well as can be expected. They’re very busy. They’re happy about that. All summer during COVID, people needed new flooring, kitchens, etc. People also want to escape from large cities and move to the suburbs. They are making investments into those places, updating them, fixing them their way. Contractors are hard to find right now.”
In New York State, a lumberman said the market there was “fairly good.” It was “better,” he stated, than six months earlier. Products his establishment sells are Red and White Oak in FAS and Better, No. 1 Common and No. 2 Common. White Oak is the best seller. Customers include both distribution and end users. Transportation, he observed, has not been a problem.
In Connecticut, a lumber source remarked that “activity is certainly picking up. I would say that in most all species, the activity is certainly up.” The market is “better” than it was six months earlier.
The lumber source offers Red and White Oak, Birch, Soft and Hard Maple and Hickory. “White Oak is smoking hot right now,” he noted. “Red Oak is steady for us. They’re all moving pretty well.” The company sells to a mix of customers. “We provide green and kiln dried, both exporting and selling to the North American market. Activity is picking up among our customers, especially in flooring. Sixty five percent of what we process is Red Oak for flooring. Red Oak’s the focal point.” As for transportation, he stated that for a few shipments, he hasn’t been able to find a container. He added that domestic freight rates are “creeping up.” He said flatbed trucks are available “if you can adjust to the freight rate. The cost of freight can be limiting.”
