Browsing Category

Business Trends

424 posts

Ontario Business Trends – June 2023

Heading into spring, sawmill contacts noted they had lower log decks, while others had increased log inventories. Green lumber sales were reported as mixed with some saying they were slow, others noted they were fair, and some said it was good for them. Kiln-dried sales were reported as fair, while other areas noted they were […]

Quebec Business Trends – June 2023

As we welcomed a late spring and warmer temperatures, logging activity had improved in most areas contacted. Sawmills advise decks are growing, and so lumber production increases were anticipated to follow. Cautious optimism was being felt as to demand from most markets was gaining momentum going forward. Kiln-dried Ash demand is reported as steady but […]

Ontario/Quebec Business Trends

According to an Ontario producer, “The market in general has been poor because of weather conditions, especially in the U.S. northern states and Ontario and Quebec, so it’s been difficult to get the construction season started. Now it’s starting to happen. The market though has been better for studs, the pre-cuts, like the 104 and […]

Southeast Business Trends

Across the Southeast region sources said that their sales are doing well. There is however a mixed bag on whether they are doing better or worse than they were six months ago. In Louisiana a sawmill representative said that they are doing well, at the time of this writing, and that they are experiencing high […]

West Coast Business Trends

At the time of this writing lumber prices are a bit of a mixed bag, wintery weather persists in the PNW and New England while unusual tornado activity threatens the south. Producers are dealing with a litany of issues beyond weather. The following is what a few West Coast producers had to say: Dean Garofano […]

Midwest Business Trends

In the Midwest, Softwood lumber providers who were recently interviewed said their markets were strong or were showing “signs of life.” A sawmill representative in Texas said his business activity “has been improving. We just had the best two weeks since October. The demand is coming back. People are kicking tires and giving me purchase […]

 Inland West Coast Business Trends

In recent interviews with lumber providers in the Inland West, one lumberman reported positive dynamics in his market while two others said their business activity wasn’t so good at the moment. In Idaho, a lumberman said his market was “good. Pine boards are decent, but Cedar is still challenging.” Compared to a few months ago, […]

Northeast Business Trends

Throughout the Northeast region sources say that their sales are doing well at the time of this writing, and they are hopeful for busy spring and summer months. In Massachusetts a lumber spokeswoman said that her company has been incredibly busy. “We have seen our inbound volume increase dramatically and we’ve been as busy as […]

Lake States Buiness Trends – May 2023

Lumbermen in the Lake States who were recently interviewed said their business activity was good. A Michigan sawmill representative remarked that the market has been steady lately. “Sales have been pretty good,” he stated. However, he noted, business is not as good as it was a year ago. “Six months ago, sales were down,” he […]

Northeast Business Trends – May 2023

Throughout the Northeast region sources have said that their sales are better than they have been. In Maryland a lumber representative said that his sales are continuing to strengthen. “The grade lumber has gotten stronger and there is more demand,” he said. He believes that the shortage of logs in his area is why the […]