Throughout the Southeast region lumber suppliers noted that their markets were not doing well.
In Mississippi a lumberman said that his market is not doing well. “Our customers aren’t really buying very much product right now and our Hardwood sales have fallen off and I’m not sure I can put my finger on why.”
He noted that his company is doing worse than it was six months ago and that after the start of the year 2024 isn’t looking like it will turn out very well but did mention that there is still time for sales to turn around.
His company is able to offer all species that are indigenous to the Southeastern U.S. in a variety of grades and thicknesses. “A good portion of who we usually sell to are furniture and flooring manufacturers, and they aren’t buying right now,” he added.
A sawyer in Alabama said that they aren’t experiencing any demand for No. 1 Common Red Oak but noted that FAS is moving steadily. “We are able to move some No. 2A Common, but the price is so cheap right now that we are holding on to it,” he said. He added that they’re markets are doing about as well as they were six months ago.
His company is able to offer Red and White Oak, Poplar, Ash and Cypress in thicknesses of 4/4 and 5/4 and in grades FAS Common and No. 2 Common and in 12-inch and wider. “White Oak is without a doubt our best seller. It is red hot, and I wish that I had more White Oak log than I do,” he said.
He noted that he currently has very few customers overseas, at the time of this writing, and that most of his customers are currently domestic. “There is very little demand overseas and the prices aren’t very good,” he said. “Everybody is slow right now. I am hearing this from everyone that I talk to.”
In Tennessee, a lumber supplier that was contacted seemed a bit more optimistic about his sales in the marketplace but did note that while his sales are better than they were six months ago, the past few weeks have been on the slower side. “We are still shipping out a decent amount of lumber, but it is very dependent on the specie and the grade.”
His company is able to offer Red and White Oak, Poplar, Ash, Walnut, Hard and Soft Maple, Cherry, Basswood and Hickory. “We offer all of our species in grades FAS and Nos. 1 and 2 Common. We carry Red and White Oak, Poplar, Walnut and Ash in thicknesses of 4/4 through 8/4 and Hickory, Hard and Soft Maple, Basswood and Cherry in 4/4 thickness.
He noted that they mainly sell to distribution yards, moulding, millwork, flooring and furniture manufacturers and anyone else that wants to buy from them.
“Labor has continued to be an issue for us and we struggle with getting enough inspectors and basic help. The companies around us are having the same problems more or less and it seems that this will continue to be an ongoing problem.”
