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Pennsylvania Timber Market Report - First Quarter, 2020
Prices remained soft in the first quarter of 2020. It seems to be a buyer's market, bouncing along the bottom at the minimum price that still allows a little wood to move.
Updated:
May 11, 2020
January - March 2020 Stumpage Prices
$ per MBF International 1/4"
Northeast
| Species by Region | Minus 1Std. Dev. | Average | Plus 1 Std. Dev. | N# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Red Oak | 283 | 343 | 404 | 10 |
| White Oak | 283 | 367 | 450 | 9 |
| Mixed Oak | 210 | 278 | 345 | 8 |
| Black Cherry | 474 | 518 | 563 | 6 |
| White Ash | 235 | 304 | 373 | 8 |
| Hard Maple | 194 | 396 | 599 | 9 |
| Soft Maple | 176 | 248 | 320 | 9 |
| Yellow Poplar | 192 | 235 | 278 | 7 |
| Misc. Hardwoods | 98 | 152 | 206 | 9 |
| White Pine | 42 | 60 | 78 | 6 |
| Hemlock | 58 | 62 | 66 | 5 |
Southeast
| Species by Region | Minus 1Std. Dev. | Average | Plus 1 Std. Dev. | N# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Red Oak | 444 | 606 | 768 | 11 |
| White Oak | 429 | 555 | 681 | 11 |
| Mixed Oak | 330 | 429 | 528 | 11 |
| Black Cherry | 111 | 300 | 488 | 2 |
| White Ash | 122 | 231 | 340 | 5 |
| Hard Maple | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Soft Maple | 171 | 248 | 326 | 6 |
| Yellow Poplar | 208 | 321 | 434 | 10 |
| Misc. Hardwoods | 143 | 206 | 268 | 13 |
| White Pine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hemlock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Northwest
| Species by Region | Minus 1Std. Dev. | Average | Plus 1 Std. Dev. | N# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Red Oak | 229 | 358 | 487 | 9 |
| White Oak | 346 | 432 | 518 | 8 |
| Mixed Oak | 139 | 257 | 376 | 6 |
| Black Cherry | 183 | 397 | 611 | 11 |
| White Ash | 60 | 154 | 248 | 7 |
| Hard Maple | 221 | 307 | 393 | 9 |
| Soft Maple | 169 | 247 | 326 | 11 |
| Yellow Poplar | 96 | 160 | 225 | 5 |
| Misc. Hardwoods | 27 | 85 | 144 | 10 |
| White Pine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hemlock | 0 | 24 | 0 | 1 |
Southwest
| Species by Region | Minus 1Std. Dev. | Average | Plus 1 Std. Dev. | N# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Red Oak | 187 | 347 | 507 | 9 |
| White Oak | 230 | 373 | 516 | 9 |
| Mixed Oak | 162 | 273 | 384 | 9 |
| Black Cherry | 186 | 300 | 414 | 7 |
| White Ash | 31 | 73 | 116 | 2 |
| Hard Maple | 100 | 275 | 450 | 4 |
| Soft Maple | 158 | 234 | 311 | 7 |
| Yellow Poplar | 140 | 162 | 183 | 4 |
| Misc. Hardwoods | 65 | 115 | 166 | 8 |
| White Pine | 80 | 118 | 157 | 5 |
| Hemlock | 86 | 86 | 86 | 2 |
Dr. Ray's Comments
Prices remained soft in the first quarter of 2020. It seems to be a buyer's market, bouncing along the bottom at the minimum price that still allows a little wood to move. About 25% of survey respondents report no sales/purchases for the quarter. Landowners are still contacting me about prices, so sellers seem to be out there looking for buyers.
Lots of wood, not much demand. Short term outlook remains weak.
