Oak And Ash Remain Best Sellers Throughout Lake States
Throughout the Lake States region, sources that were contacted at press time differed as to how their markets were doing. One source stated that he is running his business on a week-to-week basis, hoping that he will get a clearer picture of his marketplace soon. Another source noted that while his sales are currently better than they were, he has stopped exporting to China.
In Michigan, a lumberman said, “Our sales are doing okay. We aren’t doing terribly right now, but we really aren’t doing great either.”
He noted that his company isn’t doing as well this time of year as they were last year. “Our customers are slower, which in turn causes our sales to be slower,” he added.
His company offers Hard and Soft Maple, Red and White Oak, Hickory, Walnut, Cherry and Basswood in grades No. 3 Common and Better and in thicknesses of 4/4 through 8/4. When asked which of the species that he offers was selling best, he said that White Oak remains his best seller, but that Hard Maple is selling well.
He sells to flooring, RV, cabinetry and millwork manufacturers, as well as distributors. “The flooring and RV manufacturers that I sell to seem to be slower than they have been,” he said. “My cabinetry and millwork customers seem to be doing well. The lower end products that some of my customers manufacture don’t seem to be doing as well.”
He noted that a major concern for his company, as well as his customers, continues to be the uncertainty surrounding tariffs. “Since the path forward remains unclear, our customers are holding off on their orders,” he said.
“We are also struggling to sell into Canada, as they too have put tariffs in place. Our exports into Asia are also expected to slow down.”
A lumber company spokesperson in Illinois said that where his company stands in the marketplace remains unclear. “Every day we are getting a clearer picture as to how we will continue to make our way in the marketplace.”
A source noted that while uncertainty around tariffs remains a concern for many customers, the high-end manufacturers that he sells to seem to still be doing well.
His company offers Soft Maple in 4/4 and 8/4 thicknesses, Ash in thicknesses of 4/4, 6/4, 7/4 and 8/4, Hickory in 4/4 and 6/4 thicknesses and Red Oak in 5/4 thickness. All species offered are available in upper grades. “We put off milling Ash for a while, but we got some just in time and we haven’t had any issues moving it,” he said. “Hickory and Soft Maple have been difficult to move, but we are able to sell it and for that we are grateful.”
He mainly sells to concentration yards. “A lot of my customers are finding that it is becoming increasingly difficult to move their products. I have some customers that are trying to redirect containers that are out on the water, or were getting ready to go out,” he remarked. He also mentioned that the concentration yards that he sells to that are big into exports, are currently on hold and that many of them have said that they are unsure of what products to keep on hand.
In Wisconsin, a lumber salesman said that his company is doing well at the time of this writing. “Due to pricing increases we are doing better than we were six months ago,” he noted.
His company offers Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Basswood, Aspen, Hickory and Cherry in grades No. 3 and Better and in 4/4 and 5/4 thicknesses. “Red and White Oak have to be our best sellers,” he said. “Ash is also moving well for us.”
He sells to end users and distributors. “My customers in distribution are doing very well right now,” he remarked. “I haven’t heard a lot of comments from the end users that I sell to. They are placing a lot of orders however, so I believe that they are doing well.”
He noted that while his company does export to Europe and China, that all sales to China have halted. “Our sales into Europe picked up after the pause on tariffs for them began, but I am not sending anything into China right now,” he added.
He noted that while he doesn’t currently need to fill any positions urgently, if the right person comes to him looking for a job he will hire them.
