In the Lake States region, lumbermen who were contacted reported that their markets were strong. In Michigan, a lumber source said that, “based on general inquiries, backed-up orders and sales, our market is still pretty strong.” It’s “a little better” than it was several months ago, he added.
His best-selling species include Hard and Soft Maple, White Oak and Hickory. Hard and Soft Maple are both “hot,” he noted. He also offers Red Oak, Walnut and Cherry.
His sales are split 50-50 between distribution yards and end users. He said his customers are “not struggling” in their businesses. “Their sales are pretty good. Supply and labor are their two biggest issues.”
Escalating prices for transportation are a problem, he observed. However, availability is OK, he said. His company can get its product delivered in a timely manner, he stated. A problem, he said, is “producing enough lumber, fast enough.”
A Wisconsin lumber provider said his market is “very good. That assessment is based on the fact that everything is moving, and most prices are good.” The market is about the same as it was six months earlier, he stated. “It’s been very good all along.”
He handles Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Basswood, Aspen, Ash, Cherry and Hickory. “The Maples, Basswood and Aspen are the best sellers,” he noted. He offers No. 3 and Better, mainly 4/4 and 5/4.
This lumberman sells his product to distribution yards and end users, more to end users. “I think their sales are going fantastic,” he said. The exception to that, he has seen, is that they could use more employees.
“For the most part,” he stated, “domestic transportation is good. In exporting, it’s been hard to get containers.”
In Indiana, a lumber contact said his market is “pretty solid. Prices are good. Things are going well. The market is not crazy-hot,” he said, “but product is moving steadily.” Compared to a few months earlier, “It’s pretty similar,” he observed. However, “I think shipping was better a few months ago.”
He offers White Oak, Hickory, Basswood, Cherry, Hard and Soft Maple, Walnut and some Ash. “The hot ones are rift and quartered White Oak, Walnut, rustic White Oak, Cherry and Hickory,” he stated.
His biggest customer category is distribution yards. “But we also sell to end users,” he remarked. The majority of his sales are domestic, but they do export.
As for his customers’ well-being business-wise, “I haven’t heard anything negative about their sales,” he said. Transportation “could definitely be better,” he said. “Getting enough trucks to haul it all is what we’re fighting.”
