Hardwood prices in North America are picking up on the back of tight lumber supplies.
Hardwood Review Export reports that over the past few weeks tighter supplies of some grades, thicknesses and species of green lumber have forced North American export yards to increase purchasing prices.
Limited supply is already said to be impacting tulipwood, hard maple and white oak.
Along with the decline in total production, thicker lumber – 51mm, 64mm and 77mm – is being eliminated from some producer’s plans because of the lengthy time it takes to dry and the money tied up in inventory.
Additional causes for concern, it says, are that sawmills are not building up log inventories in anticipation of wetter weather as is usual at this time of year.
