Steamed or not, walnut is in demand

The ongoing popularity of black walnut (Juglans nigra) can’t be overstated, according to suppliers interviewed by Woodshop News. The premium domestic hardwood continues to sell well, whether steamed or unsteamed, despite prices that remain at a post-pandemic high.

Bruce Stevens of Highland Hardwoods in Brentwood, N.H., which carries steamed walnut from a midwestern mill, says the high prices are a result of supply and demand.

“Walnut is still an item that’s produced in smaller, lower volumes and it has maintained its pricing,” says Stevens. “We’ve seen prices on a number of items come [down] here in the last quarter, but walnut prices have remained very stable because of the limited resource. All prices went up during the pandemic, including walnut. But the majority of them - oaks, maples, poplars - have come way down.

“We sell a non NHLA grade. It’s a proprietary grade that’s very clear and very dark. This upper grade offers a much higher yield and there is limited volume of it. We buy what we can, and it sells very well.”

Walnut is steamed to even out the color. But there’s also a market for unsteamed walnut, particularly from small sawmills, such as Herbine Hardwoods in Leesburg, Va.

“Sales in walnut have been great for me,” says the owner, Rick Herbine. “I just absolutely cannot hold on to 8/4 walnut. I sell a lot of natural edge slabs, mostly 8/4. I’ve gone through a lot of walnut here so far this year. Compared to last year I’d say it’s been strong for me for a while now, and the 8/4 it just goes as fast as it comes out.”

Hearne Hardwoods in Oxford, Pa. sells unsteamed plain-sawn, quarter-sawn and figured walnut to customers that want something unique.

“Walnut, right now, is hard to keep on the shelf and we always have it in the kiln,” says owner Rick Hearne. “Our strongest market for it right now is probably for flooring and built-ins, rather than furniture.

“Our particular spin on walnut is that we don’t steam our walnut. When you steam the wood, it takes the life out of the color. The custom furniture makers we have prefer to get the rich colors of the heartwood, which can be purple to red to gold, all in the same board.”

Price quotes for 4/4 FAS walnut started at $8.50/bf, while a clear premium or upper grade was going for $13-14/bf.  

This article was originally published in the April 2023 issue.