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Business Trends

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Southeast Business Trends – October 2023

In the Southeast region, various Hardwood representatives from different states are observing the lumber market to be “Okay”, with White Oak showing notable strength according to one source. A Hardwood sales representative in Tennessee reported that his domestic sales of White Oak are performing well, but he’s encountering difficulties in his export markets. “We are […]

West Coast Business Trends – October 2023

On the West Coast, different sources provided insights into their market situations. Two sources mentioned average and steady business conditions, while another noted some inconsistency in their markets. In Washington, a Hardwood salesman reported that his markets show inconsistency, with one week being different from the next. “Things are very sporadic. We will have a […]

Ontario Business Trends – October 2023

As we head into fall, businesses are looking at ways of building inventories for later in the season and into early winter. With the Labor Day weekend behind us, it is business as usual. However, with lower production levels over the summer months, businesses are finding it challenging to get the stocks they need. Sawmill […]

Quebec Business Trends – October 2023

October is upon us and the fall season is in full swing for those in the Hardwood industry. Planning and stocking up on supplies to see businesses through the fall and early winter are under way. Some are finding it challenging to get the lumber they need as competition is rather stiff at this time, […]

Northeast Business Trends

In Massachusetts one lumber supplier has noticed a slight slowdown in business, but stated that market activities are returning to normal, resembling pre-Covid conditions. “Things are slowing down a little bit which is typical for this time of the year. We didn’t see that last year or the year prior, we stayed steadily busy year […]

Inland West Coast Business Trends

“It has slowed down. There was a bubble that kind of happened, and I took advantage of it. I was thinking should I sell this hard and project into it with some Fir-Larch. I got after it hard for a few weeks and after that had to think if I should have done that or […]

Midwest Business Trends

Spruce-Pine-Fir, Douglas Fir, and Western Red Cedar are the species that he markets, in No. 2 and Better in 2×4 through 2×12. “As far as framing lumber goes, Green Douglas Fir is doing good. Engineered wood is doing okay but not great,” he added. He mostly sells to pro-dealers and retail lumber yards. “Multi family […]

West Coast Business Trends

At the time of this writing West Coast commodity lumber sales are best described as stagnant, prices have hit a wall and in some cases are starting to trend downward. But not all sectors are experiencing pain, building in the U.S. is still happening and especially in the custom/private residential sector. The following is what […]

Southeast Business Trends

Across the Southeast, multiple sources have indicated that their markets are experiencing a slowdown in comparison to previous years. In Alabama, a lumber supplier said that the market is extremely slow at the time of this writing. “I think it’s the worse it has been in 3 years,” she remarked. “Right now, if you call […]

Lake States Business Trends – September 2023

In the Lake States region, sources expressed relatively consistent opinions, describing the overall market conditions as either “okay” or “pretty good.” “I’m going to call it okay. Not bad not great. At the end of the month the numbers have been coming in satisfactory” is how one lumber provider in Illinois described his situation at […]