We serve our clients by reporting accurate timber and timberland market data, as well as by providing analysis on current and historic trends and events.

     

    South-wide Stumpage Markets

    Timber prices generally decreased in the 2nd Quarter, as seasonal weather conditions alleviated supply constraints. Pulp markets weakened further this quarter. Wood products markets also weakened slightly in the 2nd Quarter, with southern pine lumber prices declining in both May and June.

    South-wide average stumpage prices decreased for four of the five major timber products in the 2nd Quarter. Only the South-wide average pine sawtimber price increased this quarter. This was a deviation from historic seasonal trends - as this marked only the third time in the last 18 years that the pine sawtimber price has increased quarter-over-quarter (Q/Q) in the 2nd Quarter. While the downturn in price was in line with seasonal norms for the other major products, South-wide average pine pulpwood, in particular, experienced a notable decline, decreasing more than $1.50 per ton and falling below $8.00 per ton for the first time since 3rd Quarter 2011.

    Click here to view the 2Q2023 Bulletin

    Stumpage Prices & Publications

    South-wide Average Stumpage Prices

    • Available here (last updated Jul 07, 2023)

    State-wide Average Stumpage Prices

    • Available here (last updated Jul 07, 2023)

    Quarterly Report Distributions

     

    In the News 2Q2023

    Two pulp mills are shutting down in the South. Expansions are planned for seven southern pine sawmills and five panel mills.

    Nationwide, there were roughly 405,000 acres of timberland sales through June, of which 366,000 were in the South.

    Wildfire burned 673,800 acres nationwide year-to-date through June, with roughly 221,500 acres (33%) burned in the South. Acres burned in the South were the lowest since 2019.

    Market Indicators

    Market conditions weakened for most wood products manufacturers and pulp producers in the 2nd Quarter of 2023.

    - Softwood lumber prices decreased in the 2nd Quarter.

    - US residential building construction, a principal driver of the wood products industry, continues to hold steady. Housing starts YTD-May were behind totals for the same period a year ago, but improvement expenditures YTD-May, the latest available, were the highest on record for this period.

    - The US Census reported remodeling and improvement expenditures at $137.5 billion YTD-May, the latest available, which was up $0.8 billion (+1%) from the same period in 2022.

    - The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reported total exports for the four major forest products at 2.6 million cubic meters (m3) YTD-May, the latest available, which was down 15% from the same period in 2022. Exports to China, the dominant US trade partner, were down 8% for this period.