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Hardwood Market Report 2014

ohio woods with pond in foreground

The following is the first of a quarterly installment that will appear on this blog detailing recent trends and fluctuations in the market for Appalachian-region hardwood timber.

A picture of the N. American hardwood market in general will be given, followed by some specific information relating to market trends for the more commonly-desired species’ such as red and white oak, hickory, walnut, hard and soft maple, etc. Overall, the market for hardwood timber has strengthened, following it’s typically pro-cyclical pattern and the improving global economic outlook.

Improving Timber Demand: A Brief Market Overview

As 2013 came to a close, housing starts surged over 22%
From a demand perspective, the continued recovery of the American economy is translating into a lift to hardwood values.

A relative shortage in the prevalence of logging companies coupled with strong domestic and international demand for hardwood lumber stocks has led to a strong overall improvement to the prices prevailing in the regional hardwood market. From a shorter perspective, mills are depleting their winter stocks and operating inside tighter supply chains due to the natural downturn in logging activities caused by winter weather and poor logging conditions. Overall, there are strong economy-wide fundamentals supporting a continued run in hardwood timber prices.

The single most important factor in determining the overall trend of the hardwood timber market is housing. Continuing the positive narrative, recent trends in the domestic housing market spells good things for prices of standing timber and lumber. As 2013 came to a close, housing starts surged over 22%, representing the biggest year over year increase since 1990 and the highest overall number of housing starts in 6 years.

According to the “Ohio Sawlog Price Index” reported by the Ohio State University Extension, the real sawlog price index decreased slightly from Spring 2013 to Fall 2013, though it remained above 100% for two consecutive reporting periods for the first time since 2007.

In short, there is good reason to be optimistic about prospects for the hardwood timber market in the coming year, a story that played out in the 2013 stumpage reports and has continued into 2014.

Specific Timber Market Insights

While the hardwood timber market overall has seen solid growth in value over the recent several years, gains have not been experienced equally across the species’ comprising the hardwood forest. While a host of factors interplay to determine the dynamics of a market, more isolated shocks to supply or demand due to disease or design-trends can have a surprisingly strong impact and are explored in more detail below.

When examining these reports, keep in mind that there is a strong regional component of timber pricing. Distance to and availability of sawmills can have a considerable impact on prices paid on the stump for a stand of timber.

Cherry

As with most of the hardwood species surveyed in this data, Cherry prices for the best grades improved over the course of 2013 while the overall average price of Cherry across all grades remained relatively flat.

This fits with the longer term trends for Cherry. A large reason for this effect is the

Hard Maple

Prices for Hard Maple sawlogs improved across 2013 with the greatest gains going to prime and veneer grade logs.

Hickory

As with Yellow Poplar, Hickory underwent a strong, overall average price increase across all grades. Undoubtedly influenced by the recovering housing market, Hickory prices improved on average by 9% over the year.

Red Oak

Red Oak prices were mixed during the 2013 year. While average prices for prime Red Oak improved over 30%, across all grades of Red Oak prices fell around 11%. This overall decline is most probably due to the decline in the price for no. 3 common grade Red Oak which represented a disproportionate amount of the total Red Oak harvest for the year.

Walnut

Walnut remains, on average, the most valuable species of hardwood timber harvested commercially. As expected, Walnut remains the highest priced hardwood species. Walnut prices jumped about 8% across all grades from the Spring to Fall period of 2013, the bulk of which was represented by prime and no. 1 common logs which underwent an impressive 32% and 35% average price jump.

White Oak

White Oak is among the most important species’ of timber grown in the N. American forest. It is prized for its density and durability and therefore makes excellent lumber. Though there is evidence that throughout much of the country the stock of larger-diameter White Oak trees is increasing, strong demand for White Oak lumber has outpaced this trend and stumpage prices for White Oak remained strong throughout 2013.

While the mean price for all grades of White Oak was mostly flat, the price for prime logs increased 24% from the Spring to the Fall of 2013.

Tulip Poplar

Yellow Poplar experienced an 11% increase in its average price across all grades, while the best grade of Yellow Poplar improved over 30% between the Spring and Fall.

Comments 2

  1. Post
    Author

    Timber isn’t worth more or less due to where it is harvested, though growing conditions do affect quality. Still, it is impossible to say what its worth without knowing species, quality etc. Unfortunately the lengths a tree should be cut into before transportation also typically depends on species and quality. Give us a call for more information.

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