Following is the monthly update on markets, news and other developments that impact forest landowners in F&W’s operating regions. The information in this report is based on an April 23-26 survey of managers. We hope you continue to find these updates useful and we welcome your feedback and suggestions.
U.S. Southeast
Managers in the Southeast report overall timber markets as mostly normal to
above normal, while sales activity and prices remain a bit more varied. There
are also several reports from across the region of temporary mill shutdowns for
maintenance. In Georgia, managers report above normal markets for this time of
year with average to increasing prices. In the Southwestern part of the state,
the manager reports that prices increased significantly in February and have
remained up while the manager in Southeast Georgia said pricing is good and
stable but that he’s starting to see some slight downward pressure on prices
because of mill maintenance and warm temperatures. In Central Georgia demand is
good and prices are stable but flat. The
Florida manager said small and large sawtimber sales are moving okay but noted
many sawmills no longer take pine sawlogs that are more than 18 inches at the
butt. "Landowners who have held their timber waiting on pricing in some cases
now have oversized wood for the market," he said.
In Alabama, the manager said he has seen
an increase in sawtimber stumpage prices but warns that landowners in the
LaFayette area could feel the impact of the fire that devastated the East
Alabama Lumber Company mill on April 22. While the future of the mill is
uncertain, he noted that it was known for setting the tone for sawtimber pricing
when actively participating in the market. The South Carolina manager
said, “Seasonal quota issues are being seen with pine sawtimber, plylogs and
chip-n-saw” in his state while the Virginia manager said pulpwood prices are
dropping as spring advances. In Tennessee, the manager reports that markets are
good for hardwood sawtimber.
U.S. West Gulf
Managers in the West Gulf report that markets are normal to slightly above
normal, with sales activity and prices as average to picking up. The manager in
Mississippi reports that mills are on quotas, with pine and hardwood pulpwood
steady, and that oak lumber prices are increasing. The manager in Texas also
reports that mills are on quota, adding that a dry winter has resulted in mills
being full of inventory earlier than normal, which could result in lower prices
and quota in the months ahead. In Arkansas, the manager reports that the demand
for pine sawtimber is still high due to the increased lumber demand.
U.S. Northeast
Northeastern managers report normal timber sales activity and overall markets
for this time of year, with prices average to increasing. The manager in
Midstate New York says prices are good on everything but pulpwood. In Upstate
New York, the manager says, "We are in the midst of the spring mud season,
although if the dry weather pattern continues it will be a short time off. The
ground is amazingly dry for this time of year and we expect harvesting to start
up in early May, three to four weeks earlier than typical. Hardwood sawlog
prices are good and sugar maple is the species in most demand. We expect prices
to continue to increase into summer. Pulpwood markets will likely be slow again
this summer with loggers on some form of quota. This may be offset by firewood
markets."
F&W Forestry Services
P. O. Box 3610, Albany, Georgia 31706
email: fw_newsletter@bellsouth.net
Visit us at: www.FWForestry.net