Genuine mahogany fades from glory days

Monday, 14 June 2010 00:00

What a difference a few years makes. Genuine mahogany, once the kingpin of imported species, is now just a tiny blip on the wood markets' radar screen. In November 2003, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) imposed stricter regulations on mahogany trade by officially listing it on CITES Appendix II. Shipping of genuine mahogany in the form of logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets and plywood, must be accompanied by a CITES Appendix II export permit.

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Cherry on top when it comes to sales

Sunday, 13 June 2010 00:00

If there is a domestic wood species that can be consistently classified as a top performer, it has to be cherry. Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is also known as wild cherry, wild black cherry, choke cherry, cabinet cherry and rum cherry, and grows from Canada south to central Florida and portions of Mexico and Guatemala. Its highest concentration is in Pennsylvania, which supplies about 70 percent of the country's cherry, although it only represents 3 to 4 percent of the Appalachian forest.

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Walnut’s appeal gets a boost from dark wood trend

Monday, 17 May 2010 00:00

For those who believe that the domestic wood markets are in the pits, think again. Maple is holding its own, cherry remains strong and, according to several dealers, black walnut is at the top of the heap. Solid supplies, stable prices, consistent quality and a trend toward darker woods have brought walnut back to the forefront of domestic woods. For those doubters, read on.

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Redwood stands tall for Western dealers

Monday, 17 May 2010 00:00

East of the Rocky Mountains, when people think about outdoor furniture or decking, they automatically think of pressurized wood, Western red cedar or ipe, which is the newcomer in the last few years. But there is another choice out there - an old choice actually - in redwood. According to the California Redwood Association, nearly three million bf of redwood was sold in the United States in 2009. And for those worried about the ancient redwoods being cut down, they are protected and the redwood sold on the market today consists of second and third growth.

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Red Oak is on the rebound after a lull

Monday, 19 April 2010 00:00

What a difference a few months can make. For several years, there has been a glut of red oak on the market, causing wholesale prices to drop below $1/bf. When prices fell below $.90/bf, loggers stopped cutting red oak because there was no money to be made. It's taken about three years, but because of mill closures and reduced logging, the old supply-and-demand theory has kicked in and red oak has finally emerged from its doldrums. Within the last four months, prices have increased between 10 and 15 percent.

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