U.S. hardwood exports are hurt by rising U.S. dollar, particularly in Europe. With the exception of walnut, exports of hickory, cherry and hard maple slid in some export markets last Nov.

Black walnut is often considered a national treasure and is a premier domestic cabinet wood prized for its color variations.

Timber investment firm Timbervest LLC has sold more than 10,000 acres of timberland assets in Florida, South Carolina and Vermont from its fund. The combined value of the three transactions totals more than $14.2 million.

Hardwood sales to cabinet plants were steady to a bit better. Flooring plants continued to restrict incoming lumber with lower prices or by restricting purchase orders to a few loads per vendor.

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) reported net earnings of $585 million for the quarter ended Oct. 31, 2014, a 17.3 percent increase over the same period a year ago.

Timber harvests in the U.S. and Canada Have Gone up for Four Consecutive Years driven by Log Exports and Lumber Production

Timbervest has acquired 13,220 acres of timberland in Georgia, Tennessee and Vermont for its investment group.

While hardwood fiber costs have fallen substantially over the past few years, softwood prices continue to remain stable.

Northwest Hardwoods Inc. was acquired from American Industrial Partners by investment firm Littlejohn & Co., in a deal announced July 18.

Littlejohn & Co., LLC a private investment firm based in Greenwich, CT announced the acquisition of Northwest Hardwoods, Inc. from American Industrial Partners.