Southeast Business Trends – November/December 2022

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According to sources in the Southeast, the market, as of this writing, is still doing well. There were mixed remarks when asked if the current market was doing better or worse than it was several months ago.

A lumber exporter in Louisiana said that his demand is high with business being good at the time of this writing. He also noted that his market is better than it was six months ago.

He said that he only deals with Yellow Pine in full rough thicknesses of 4/4, 5/4, 1-5/8, 8/4, 10/4, 12/4, and 16/4. He added that he handles all export grades, sap, prime and merch.

He has not had a chance to talk to his customers about their markets, as they are mainly importers in other countries. He also remarked that he is having difficulties with transportation and that is adding to his problems. “My biggest problem is getting lumber to my customers,” he said.

A lumberman in Arkansas said that his business is average with the market seeming to be doing well.

He said, “We handle Southern Yellow Pine in grades No. 1, 2 and 3 Common with 5/4 thickness and 2x timbers.”

He sells to mostly lumber treaters, distribution yards, and industrial customers. “In general, their market is slower, than it was six months ago,” he added.

Transportation has not been an issue for this lumberman. “Transportation is pretty good right now. Trucking has gotten a lot better as things have slowed,” he remarked.

In Mississippi, a lumber representative said that the market seems to be average for him and his company as well. “Things are pretty good, but we’re real cautious with where we are seeing the market going into the fourth quarter,” he said. He also noted that while things are going well now, the market is not as good as it was six months ago.

He sells Southern Yellow Pine in grades No. 1 Common through No. 4 Common in 5/4 thickness. He also sells radius decking timbers from 4×4 through 12×12 for their standard runs.

“Industrial treaters are our primary customers. They are seeing the same things that we are. Inflation and interest rates are concerns, and it feels like going forward we are going to see some correction,” he said when asked about his customers and how their markets were doing.

When it comes to transportation his company hasn’t had any issues either. “We have our own trucks. We are also seeing more availability in transportation in the last month or so,” he noted.

Overall, he said that their product needs are still holding up pretty well and that “for the time being we are still active.”

By Miller Wood Trade Publications

The premier online information source for the forest products industry since 1927.

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