In the Lake States, the health of the lumber market ranges from very positive to not so good, depending on the lumber provider with whom you talk.
For example, in Wisconsin, a lumberman stated, “The markets are, I’d say, very strong.” Business is “better,” he observed, than it was six months earlier. He sells Red and White Oak, Cherry, Hickory, Hard and Soft Maple and Basswood. “Right now,” he said, “I’m selling Red Oak, because it’s what I have. If I had Hard and Soft Maple, they would sell just as well.”
Customers are “more end users than distributors,” he noted. “They’re telling me that the market for their products is very strong right now, and they can’t really give me a reason as to why. But they’re getting a lot of orders.”
Transportation, he said, is “not really” a problem.
An Illinois source, who sells industrial Hardwood blocking, stated that “sales-wise the market is down, similar to the industry. It’s not taking the same direction as homebuilding by any means.” Species he offers are primarily Oak and Maple. Customers are retailers, industrial and heavy construction. “We find transportation very challenging,” he observed. “There’s a shortage of truck drivers.”
Up in Michigan, a lumber supplier judged the market there to be “pretty good.” “It’s a little better than it was six months ago.” He provides Hard and Soft Maple, Red and White Oak, Hickory, Walnut and Cherry in mainly 4/4 to 8/4 widths and No. 3 and Better. “Hard Maple is in great demand right now, White Oak as well,” he observed. “Hickory is good. Soft Maple is OK. Red Oak is pretty good. Walnut has gotten good. Cherry is still pretty so-so.” Customers for this company are split evenly between end users and distribution. “Most of our customers indicate they’re busy, with orders and work to do.” Transportation, he stated, “has been a little tough. Rates have gone up some. Availability has been a little tough.
Also, getting enough logs and green lumber has been tough all around. We try to keep a month’s worth of logs, and we’ve been sitting on two-weeks-worth or less-than-two-weeks-worth for a while.”
