Sources that were contacted in the Midwest region had mixed feelings as to how their market was fairing at the time of this writing.
In Texas remanufacturer said that he has noticed his sales slowdown over the past six months. “There are a lot of variables at play right now. Especially with the storms that have hit East Texas, it has been hard to get jobs started,” he noted.
“We are still holding steady as a company, however. And while business seems to have slowed for various reasons, we are still able to get material out and capture market share.”
His company offers Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar. “We offer green Douglas Fir and kiln-dried Douglas Fir in No. 1 Common and Better and Western Red Cedar in Standard and Better,” he said, adding that they offer Douglas Fir in anything from a 4×4 to a 20×20 and Western Red Cedar in any thickness that their customers want.
He noted that his company sells to retail lumber yards. “Their sales seem to be off, but this could be due in part to their sales being tied to home building.” He added that while their sales are off, they are still steady. “A lot of people are having to adjust to the after Covid numbers and the new normal that we are entering into,” he said.
A South Dakota lumberman said that his sales have been slow. “It seems that a lot of people are sitting around waiting. I’m not sure what they are waiting on.”
When asked if his sales are doing better or worse than they were six months ago, he said that they are doing worse.
His company offers Cedar and Engelman Spruce Lodgepole Pine. “We offer D and Better and Nos. 2 and 3 in Pine. Cedar we are able to offer No. 3 and Better Select tight knot. We only offer Pine in 1x and we offer Cedar in 1x, 2x, 4x, 6x and 8x,” he said.
He sells to retail lumber yards and noted that their sales are also slow. “It seems like there are a lot of estimates out there, but no one is pulling the trigger and buying any lumber.”
In Iowa a lumber spokesperson said that his sales are pretty strong. “We have diversified our products and what we are able to offer our customers, and I think that this has played a large role in keeping us busy.”
His company offers Spruce, Pine and Hemlock Fir in grades No. 3 and Better and in dimensions, as well as 6/4 thickness and 1x.
He mentioned that he sells to a wide range of customers from DIYers to commercial companies. “Everyone that I have talked to lately has said that they are flush with work. My area has been fortunate.”
He noted that his company was having issues with labor up until six months ago, now they are fully staffed and are running all cylinders.
