Business Trends

Among the factors for the recent slowdown in many lumber yards throughout the Lake States, a Michigan lumberman recently suggested that a “lack of vision” loomed as a primary culprit in the downturn. “It is kind of odd,” he noted. “Six months ago, customers had a little pep in their step. Usually we’d say that […]

Throughout the Northeast region lumber contacts were varied in their response to whether or not the market was doing better than it was six months ago, but they all agreed that, at the time of this writing, their sales are depressed. In Maine, a lumber spokesperson said that while his sales are currently doing worse […]

Across the Southeast region sources agreed that lumber prices have been better, while varying on their responses as to how much business they had, at the time of this writing. In Mississippi a lumber saleswoman said their markets are slow right now and that they are worse than they were six months ago, which she […]

A California lumberman recently noted that business was “adequate” and that he would “take that any day” over the “chaos” that the pandemic created in the lumber market. “It was no fun during the pandemic,” he noted. “We all want to be profitable, but that was insane. Now we are moving along and still profitable.” […]

It was a slow start to the new year as customers let their inventories slide over the end of 2023 and placed orders in December for January receipts, which caused a boost in current business by end of January. Most primary and secondary manufacturers did not see a significant increase in demand for Hardwood finished […]

Sawmills and concentration yards reported better business early in the new year compared to the period before the holidays. Activity was mostly seen to replenish inventories as opposed to secondary manufacturers increasing their consumption of Hardwoods. However, it was reported that overall for most species business was rather slow. Ash markets are mixed, noted contacts, […]

While lumbermen in the Lake States continued to steadily “move wood” through the fourth quarter of 2023, they agreed that “something must change” in order to hit the ground running in 2024. A Wisconsin source called the 2023 fourth quarter market “steady” but added that nothing is “booming.” “We are still moving most species except […]

While lumbermen in the Lake States continued to steadily “move wood” through the fourth quarter of 2023, they agreed that “something must change” in order to hit the ground running in 2024. A Wisconsin source called the 2023 fourth quarter market “steady” but added that nothing is “booming.” “We are still moving most species except […]