Making up your mind to buy timber is one thing and getting the right price for your wood import is of great importance. We present to you the best timber prices online for different types of wood. Prices are affected by their types, level of finishing, and area of production. We carry out the best research and processing to make sure we update with all information needed concerning pricing before going in for your wood purchase.
Wood is one of the few natural and renewable building materials used nowadays. The cyclical process of harvesting and regenerating forests for timber production ensures that timber remains available. Each time a tree is harvested up to 10 trees are restored in its place. As a natural resource, wood is non-toxic and safe to handle and touch. In addition, it ages naturally and is not decomposed into pollutants. The Best Timber Prices Online for Different Woods vary from one vendor to another. However, as will be later on discussed, the same set of factors is a determinant of the cost to pay for a specific wood type.
Some of the factors affecting wood pricing online may include;
- Competition: Wood basins, in general, consist of only a handful of counties and are small in size. Based on whether the timber is located in a marginally or highly competitive area, the price of timber might vary. The companies offering forest products obtain their wood from places closer to their mills, even if it means paying a higher stumpage price to ensure low delivery costs. The price can, as a result, vary, even when you’re in a compact geographical distance.
- Inventory: Maintaining an adequate inventory level is vital to managing facility production, associated costs and overall supply chain productivity; optimizing the supply chain can save money and improve efficiencies. But when inventories run low, wood-consuming manufacturers are often forced to go out on the open market where they will pay a premium for wood, as this flexibility comes at a price. This strategy, while costly, ensures that a facility obtains the required volume to operate at its preferred production level. When mills are in a situation where they are paying a premium for wood, the loggers and wood dealers that supply the mill can pay higher stumpage prices to landowners.
- Weather: Wet weather, in particular, can make it challenging for loggers to supply the much-needed loads of wood as they would on dry days. Timber typically falls under the category ‘wet weather tract’ that could be harvested throughout the year, and since it is so accessible, it would earn higher premiums. When (and if) the supply becomes constrained, the timber market price increases to a large extent. In this context, the purchasers should also keep in mind the plausible but unforeseen weather extremities like wildfires and hurricanes which have a direct impact on the price of timber.
- Transportation: Another major expense faced by loggers is the cost of transporting equipment. Now, the larger tracts of 200+ acres give the best opportunity to loggers who want to increase their weekly production by hauling or harvesting more loads every day. It is for this reason only that the tracts with higher acreage and volume would secure premium international timber prices.
- Tree Size: Tree Size and Quality: Pricing can often appear product-based when, in fact, the size of the tree is what ultimately matters. In general, pine logs fall into the following size categories: 5”-7” diameter at breast height (DBH) is pulpwood; 8”-11” comprises chip-n-saw, and logs that are 12” and larger are considered sawtimber. The per-ton value of trees generally increases in conjunction with log size. For example, sawtimber with a DBH of 18″ commands a higher price than 12″ sawtimber. Log quality can impact this, however. Lower-quality trees may be used in a less-expensive product class even though they reached the necessary DBH, so they command a lower price as a result. (Active forest management can have dramatic effects on timber quality as well.)
Different wood types and Best Timber Prices You Can Get Online
The Best Timber Prices Online for Different Woods apply to many types of wood. The following are popular among constructors and carpenters who use these woods for a variety of purposes.
Meranti
We can’t talk about the Best Timber Prices Online for Different Woods without mentioning Meranti which is a timber native to Southeast Asia. It is probably the most widespread of all hardwoods. If you live in a house that has a hardwood front door, it could be made of meranti. With excellent machining properties, this wood can be used in many ways. These include; cladding of doors, skirting boards, buildings, flooring, picture frames, window frames, furniture, greenhouses, moldings, carvings, siding, and high-quality exterior plywood. Meranti can be dyed, polished, waxed, oiled, and varnished. It can be conveniently used both indoors and outdoors due to its high weather resistance.
This top-notch hardwood has one of the Best Timber Prices Online: US$200.00-US$300.00 per cubic meter.
American white oak
American white oak has become very popular in recent years. As the name implies, it is an American species, most commonly cultivated in the eastern part of the United States. It is also cultivated in southeastern Canada. Use only internally as it is less responsive to moisture. Ideal for work, it can be used for skirting boards, frames, floors, picture frames, furniture, moldings, and panels.
It is popular for panel materials such as plywood and MDF, which are widely used in furniture and furniture manufacturing. In a solid state, American white oak can be dyed, polished, waxed, oiled, and varnished.
This hardwood is available at a price that ranges between US$570.00-US$580.00 per cubic meter.
Sapele
Sapele is a species that grows naturally in western and central Africa. It has excellent processing properties and can be used both inside and outside. Sapele can be used for skirting boards, frames, floors, picture frames, furniture, moldings, doors, greenhouses, and cladding. It is popular for veneers of sheet materials such as plywood and MDF boards, which are widely used in furniture manufacturing. Sapele hardwoods can be dyed, polished, waxed, oiled, and varnished.
This hardwood is available at a price that ranges between US$320.00-US$450.00 per cubic meter.
Ash wood
Ash is a species that is widely distributed in the United States and Canada. It is not a very durable wood and is usually used only indoors. Its applications are flea and other tool handles, furniture making, sporting goods, flooring, boat-making interior applications, shop fittings, and high-quality joinery. It can also be used as a veneer for plywood and MDF boards. Ash can be dyed, polished, waxed, oiled, and varnished.
This hardwood is available at a price that ranges between US$479.00-US$497.00 per cubic meter.
European oak
It is a species native to the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and many other European countries. It is a durable wood with excellent workability. This oak can be used both inside and outside.
Its applications are in the manufacture of furniture, doors, windows, skirting boards, moldings, flooring, doors, boats, gates, and fences. In large sizes, European oak is often used for structural applications and can be used for ceiling joists and stanchions.
Looking at the internal beams used to build old barns, churches, etc., they are probably hardwood oaks. This hardwood is available at a price that ranges between US$570.00-US$580.00 per cubic meter.
Western Red Cedar
It grows naturally in the Pacific Northwest and is a softwood that is easy to process. It can be used for furniture making, wooden roof tiles, and interior / exterior cladding.
Western Red Cedar is a very durable wood and can be used outdoors without any treatment. However, if left untreated, it loses its red color over the years and becomes a silver-gray color. Before the chipboard and the MDF Revolution took over traditional furniture making, cedar was used as a closet drawer and a base behind the wardrobe. The reason for this is that the scent of cedar keeps moths away. This wood can be dyed, polished, waxed, oiled, and varnished.
This hardwood is available at a price that ranges between US$300.00-US$500.00 per cubic meter.
Fir
This wood, also known as Douglas-firs or the Christmas tree, is often used in buildings. After processing, the fir becomes pulp and is used for plywood. It is reasonably expensive and can be used for many other applications. The fir grains are straight and clear. Therefore, the varnish is suitable for fir products. Also, when compared to most conifers, fir is harder and stronger.
This hardwood is available at a price that ranges between US$180.00 – US$2000.00 per cubic meter.
Pine
Pine is the most common conifer option for a variety of applications, primarily furniture. Wood is popular because it is easy to bend and carve. Pine is also cleaner, easier to obtain, and easier to use than most wood. It lasts a long time and is suitable for floors, frames, and even roofs. There are many types of pine, including white, yellow, and ponderosa.
This hardwood is available at a price that ranges between US$455.00-US$485.00 per cubic meter.
Factors affecting different wood prices
Regardless of location, the cost of wood raw materials is the largest single variable affecting Best Timber Prices Online for Different Woods. Therefore, it is essential to understand that the initial timber price in a supply area is an integral part of the total operating cost.
The ever-changing variables below add to the complexity of the timber supply chain and timber market. To better understand market prices, it is important to thoroughly investigate these factors in terms of both short-term and long-term risks and opportunities.
Competition: Wood pools are generally small and consist of a small number of counties. Prices of wood can fluctuate by up to $ 20 per ton, depending on whether the timber is in a highly competitive area or not. For forest products companies also procure timber as close to the factory as possible and may increase storage prices to reduce shipping costs. As a result, prices can fluctuate significantly within relatively compact geographic distances.
Inventory: Maintaining the right level of inventory is important for managing the production of assets, the associated costs, and the productivity of the entire supply chain. Supply chain optimization can save costs and improve efficiency. However, low inventories often force wood-consuming manufacturers to go to the open market, where they pay a premium for timber. This flexibility comes at a price. This strategy is costly but ensures that the facility receives the amount needed to operate at its preferred production level. When the sawmill is paying a premium for the timber, the loggers and timber merchants who supply the sawmill can pay the landowner a high stump price.
Seasonality and weather: Rainy weather makes it difficult for lumberjacks to carry as much wood as possible per day. Timber types, which fall into the rainy region category, demand higher premiums because they can be harvested all year round and are easily accessible. If there is a shortage of supply, the price will rise. Loggers shift production efforts to rainy areas during high rainfall months, and timber consumption facilities pay higher prices to maintain inventory.
Seasonal weather patterns repeatedly affect timber prices, due to the long-lasting impact on forest resources, such as hurricanes, wildfires, and long-term droughts. Unexpected but plausible extreme weather needs to be considered. For example, in 2018, over 3.5 million acres of forest were directly affected by Hurricane Michael. About half of these acres were seriously or catastrophically affected. This means that 75% (serious damage) to 95% (catastrophic damage) of lumber was lost in all of these areas. The remaining acres took moderate damage, totaling about 15%. After extreme weather events like Hurricane Michael, there are both immediate and long-term changes in procurement and harvesting activities. This in turn leads to increased price volatility that can last for years.
Tract size: The cost of moving equipment from one track to another is a big expense for a lumberjack. In vast areas of over 200 acres, lumberjacks can increase their weekly production by increasing their daily yields. For this reason, areas with higher quantities and the surface area often fix price premiums.
Tree size and quality: Prices are often displayed on a product basis, but ultimately the size of the tree. Generally, pine logs fall into the following size categories: diameters at Breast Height (DBH) between 5 “~ 7” are considered pulpwood. 8 “-11” are called chip-n- saw, while logs of 12 “and above are considered saw timber. The value per ton of trees usually increases with the size of the trunk. For example, 18-inch DBH material is more expensive than 12-inch material. However, the quality of the logs can be affected. Despite achieving the required DBH, lower-quality trees are available at a lower price because they are available in cheaper product classes.
In conclusion, the Best Timber Prices Online for Different Woods depends on many factors. This could be based on the type of wood; softwood or hardwood, the season and area of purchase, and the quantity to be purchased. Get the wood type that suits best for your projects through woods like pine are one of the cheapest and easiest to get.
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