Appalachian hardwood markets continue to remain strong and vibrant, steady from last week’s reporting, as Chinese demand continues as does interest from other international and certainly domestic markets. This continues to translate to good stumpage pricing in our valuable hardwood species that we typically report in this article, and Chinese log buyers are competing more and more with our traditional domestic and i\other international buyers of cherry logs. Prices continue to tick up in the quality upper grades for cherry, and common cherry material has maintained a steadiness in position. Ash remains strong, hard maple has picked up a bit before the typical summer dip (when it becomes affected by staining from heat), and reports are that the oaks have throttled back some though pricing has remained steady.
General market comments/trends in the Appalachian Hardwoods region:
Black cherry: international (Chinese, other) demand continues to increase, especially for the higher quality material; same for the domestic demand; stumpage prices following lumber prices + 10.9% (since Jan 1st 2017)
Hard (sugar) maple: slight decrease then steadying of both export and domestic demand; stumpage prices steady; lumber prices –1.2% (since Jan 1st 2017)
Red oak; export and domestic demand slightly increasing since the beginning of 2017, currently steady; stumpage prices steady; lumber prices +0.6% (since Jan 1st 2017)
White ash; export and domestic demand remains robust, and Chinese demand remains very strong; stumpage prices steady at high levels; lumber prices +11.3% (since Jan 1st 2017)
Soft maple; demand tailed off slightly in mid-Feb, then steady since; stumpage prices decreasing slightly; lumber prices -3.7% (since Jan 1st 2017)
Perspective and % Changes are measured using data from January 6, 2017 to May 19, 2017