Ash wood sales in the Northern U.S. will remain strong for the foreseeable future, with strong demand at home and abroad, especially for the upper-grades. Soft Maple sales should continue at a decent clip. Read more regional hardwood rundowns

Northern U.S. - Ash sales will remain strong for the foreseeable future, with good demand continuing at home and abroad, especially for the upper-grades. Soft Maple sales should continue at a decent clip; staining concerns will keep summertime production in-check, holding prices at or near current levels.

Appalachian - Lumber sales will feel a bit sluggish relative to recent months, but the risk of market-crushing overproduction is largely past…especially with export markets setting records. A number of items still have some downward price adjustments to make, but stability will be the rule over the next two months.

Southern - Solid 4/4 FAS/1F Red Oak exports; steady 4/4 #2&3A Com Red Oak purchasing by residential flooring plants; and, perhaps most importantly, continued strong demand for crossties, crane mats and most other low-grade items will keep overall sales for Southern sawmills decent through the summer.

Western - U.S. Alder lumber exports to China—far and away the leading foreign market—were 69% higher in Jan 2012 than in Jan 2011. Shipments to China have since leveled off, however, and fallen far behind the strong pace of early 2011. They will remain sub-par because supplies are low, not because demand isn’t good.

Eastern Canada - Better Yellow Birch sales have been reported, and relatively high Maple prices may encourage more buyers to switch. Canadian flooring plants have scaled back lumber purchases due to lower exports of solid flooring into the U.S. With the Canadian dollar at an all-time high against the euro, sustaining exports to Europe will be challenging.