Lumber Pricing & Supply

Hardwood lumber demand remains strong but growth is expected to slow in second half due to decline in remodeling projections and residential construction.

Hardwoods Distribution Inc. acquired assets of Olam Wood Products, a Leland, NC importer of tropical lumber products. Hardwoods paid $2.8 million; Olam has $4 million in sales.

U.S. hardwood lumber export demand tapered off in May due to higher prices for red oak, white oak and poplar.

The Wood Resource Quarterly report of the Global Forest Industry in the first Quarter 2013 reports sawlog prices were up in practically all regions covered by the WRQ in the first Quarter of 2013, the biggest quarter-to-quarter increase since early 2011.

Advantage Lumber has launched Wood Decking Inc., adding multiple CNC moulders and milling equipment to produce moulding, tongue and groove, and wood products in a 50,000-square foot manufacturing and distribution facility near Los Angeles.

Cabinet, furniture and component manufacturers will buy more unselected soft maple for use in painted and darkly stained products, which continue to grow in popularity.

Idaho Timber, Boise, acquired and will reopen Hood Industries' shuttered sawmill in Coushatta, LA. Following a $3.5 million investment, the sawmill will produce dimension lumber and other timber products from southern yellow pine.

Hardwood lumber will see additional price increases in the months ahead, as the uptick in supply anticipated by this time may not show up until August.