Business Trends North America

According to published statistics, lumber production was down both in Canada and the U.S. at year end 2024. Some secondary manufacturers and sawmills had reported a drop in orders and extended plant shutdowns over the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. Log supplies were declining for sawmills as temperatures had not dropped enough yet to […]

Across the Lake States region, sources that were contacted at the time of this writing all agreed, but one, that their markets were doing just as well if not better than they were six months ago. In Wisconsin a lumberman said that overall, his sales are doing well and that they are continuing to be […]

Mixed reports on the lumber market have been received from throughout the Northeast. In Pennsylvania, a lumber sales representative commented, “I’m going to say the market in our area is soft” because of the “overall economic conditions that are out there. No one is extremely busy and I mean in all sectors: kitchen, bath, moulding, […]

In the Southeast, reviews provided by lumber representatives have been primarily negative. In Tennessee, a lumber spokesperson felt, at the time of this writing, “the market in general has softened. The demand doesn’t seem to be where it was three months ago.” According to him, it is worse than six months ago. They offer “all […]

Throughout the West Coast region sources that were contacted noted that their sales continue to be slower than they were six months ago. In Washington, a lumberman said that his sales are slower than they were six months ago and that he believes this is due to the lack of building activity in his area, […]

The Holiday Season is upon us, and businesses have slowed down somewhat, as expected at this time of year, to spend time with family and friends and to take a short rest. It has been a busy year, and this is a time to reflect on the positives and challenges faced and to plan for […]

It is a quieter time with the Holiday Season upon us. As we reflect on the past year and plan for 2025, we cannot help but send our heartfelt wishes to those affected by the disasters caused by Hurricane Helene of flooding and destruction in North Carolina and other border states in October. We are […]

Sources that were contacted throughout the Lake States region were a mixed bag as one source said that his market was doing well, while the others said that they are having a harder time selling their products. In Wisconsin a lumber representative said that overall, his marketplace is doing well at the time of this […]

Opinions regarding the state of the forest products industry in the Northeast varied among industry professionals in the region. A representative from a distribution yard in Pennsylvania said that business in her area was spotty but that certain items were selling well. Conversely, sawmill representatives in both Maine and Maryland were less optimistic when asked […]

The reports on the hardwood lumber markets in the Southeast portray an element of negativity. A lumber spokesperson in Mississippi said that the market wasn’t doing well at the time of this writing and that it is worse than six months ago. They offer, “pretty much all species indigenous to the Southeastern and Eastern United […]