At the time of this writing, sources from the West Coast recently reported a trend of slower business conditions with some also anticipating an upcoming slow season for the remainder of the year.
According to a supplier based in Washington, the market presents its fair share of challenges. “We are struggling to keep our production sold let’s say that.”
When asked how they were doing compared to several months ago, he noted, “It’s worse no doubt.”
His company handles mostly Alder and is limited on the variety of wood they carry but they’ll occasionally market Maple and Ash. They sell to cabinet and moulding manufacturers across the country and internationally.
“Transportation costs are down but you want it to be a balance of how bad you beat up your freight vendors because you need them around when business turns around,” he added.
An Oregon source said they are still busy, but he has concerns for the second half of the year. “I see signs of a slowdown coming for us. We have enough orders to keep us going for the next month or so.”
He offers Walnut, Oak, Maple, and Elm in 4/4 through 12/4 in higher end grades with Walnut being his current best seller.
His customers include mostly end-users who build high-end furniture and interiors. “Our customers seem like they are preparing for a slowdown as well. Some are already there, but a lot of people we sell to have 12-to-16-week lead times, so they haven’t felt it quite yet,” he added.
When asked if transportation or labor was an issue, he said that transportation isn’t much of a factor anymore. “Labor is a little tight but not as tight as it was a year or so ago,” he remarked.
Another source in Washington is also noticing a recent slowdown in his market. “It’s slower than it has been. Beginning of the year we were expecting a slowdown in the market, and it did slow down but business wasn’t bad at all. This is probably the first month that we are saying it’s not going to be a good month. Been waiting for it to happen and now it’s happened,” he said.
The species he sells include Hard and Soft Maple, Poplar, Red and White Oak, Beech, Alder, and Hickory in all thicknesses but mostly 4/4 in Select and Better, No. 1 Common and No. 2 Common. His best sellers are Rift White Oak and Poplar. “We move Maples, but the market is not very good for that right now,” he added.
His company sells to both end-users and distribution yards and he said that they were doing about the same as him at the time of this writing. “Everything is slower. Business isn’t horrible but it’s slow. It’s typically slow at this time in the industry.”
He commented that both transportation and labor have not been a concern for him.
