While prices in the East-South were a bit more volatile than average prices across the South, prices were fairly stable overall. The combination of continued wet and severe winter weather in areas of the U.S. South is primarily responsible for the price fluctuations between regions.
Pine sawtimber prices saw the least movement, up 0.5 percent in the East, down 1 percent in the Mid and flat in the West over the last reporting period of 2013. The Southwide average was also flat at $25.40 per ton. Prices were 4 percent higher than the Southwide average in the East, 5 percent lower than average in the Mid region and nearly at average in the West. Partly because of the weather, housing starts have slowed from the rise we saw late last year. As a result, there has been little upward pressure on prices.
Pine Chip-n-Saw prices were slightly more volatile, up 3 percent in the East and Mid regions and down almost 2 percent in the West. The Southwide average was $15.69 per ton, up 1.6 percent from the two-month period that closed 2013. Prices were 13 percent higher than the Southwide average in the East, 3 percent below average in the Mid region and 10 percent below average in the West.
Pine Pulpwood prices were higher by 3 percent in the East, down 2 percent in the Mid region and up 1 percent in the West. The Southwide average was $9.98 per ton, higher than last reporting period by 1 percent. In the East, pulpwood prices were significantly higher than average (23%); prices were 8.5 percent below average in the Mid region and 15 percent below average in the West.
Compared to the last two months of 2013, Hardwood Pulpwood prices fell by 3 percent in the East and less than 1 percent in the Mid region. Hardwood pulpwood prices increased in the West by 3.5 percent. The Southwide average price for hardwood pulpwood was flat at $8.43 per ton. Mid and West region prices were above average, at 10 and 6 percent respectively. Prices in the East, however, were 15 percent below average.
Hardwood Sawtimber prices fell by 2 percent in the East, but gained 3 percent in both the Mid and West markets. The Southwide average for hardwood sawtimber was $22.56 per ton, higher than last reporting period by 1 percent. Prices in the East were 9 percent lower than this average, while the Mid region price was 8 percent higher than average and the West region price was 2 percent higher.
Forest2Market: July 14, 2023
