Timber Market Report

While selling timber may appear to be complex, adequate market knowledge and preparation can make it a very rewarding experience. Access Penn State Extension’s report on timber stumpage and mill prices, based on information from loggers, sawmills, pulp and paper companies, foresters, and public agencies. The quarterly report is intended to describe general trends in the timber market.

Timber Prices and Market Trends

Harvesting and selling timber can be a good way for forest owners to practice sustainable forestry and receive income simultaneously. Local market trends can further assist landowners with estimating their timber’s worth.

Penn State Extension presents a number of graphs describing general timber market trends for each of the four Pennsylvania regions. Nominal and real 10-year pricing trends are reported for eleven timber species found in the Commonwealth.

Over the period between December 2007 and December 2017, many species have shown increasing prices. White ash, for instance, shows the highest rates of annual price growth in the Northwest region – 9.32% nominal and 8.34% real. Conversely, white oak and mixed oaks show high rates in the Northeast and Southwest regions (5.34% - 6.16% nominal and 4.70% - 5.21% real). In Southeastern Pennsylvania, the northern red oak shows the highest nominal and real price growth in the region, with 5.79% and 4.85%, respectively.

Information on the methods used to create the timber prices charts can be found in the Timber Prices: 10 Year Trends Methodology publication.

Quarterly Timber Market Report

Pennsylvania is among the largest hardwood producers nationally and forest products – including timber – are a significant part of the state’s economy. Penn State Extension offers landowners up-to-date information on timber market conditions by publishing a quarterly timber market report. The report strives to promote fair timber sales, as well as encourage forest stewardship and conservation of natural resources.

The report reflects the prices for standing timber and logs delivered to sawmills observed over a period of three months. Average prices are calculated based on data reported quarterly by Pennsylvania loggers, forestry consultants, pulp and paper companies, public agencies, and sawmills.

The report for the first quarter of 2020, for instance, notes that timber prices remained soft. With 25% of all survey respondents reporting no sales or purchases, the market is bouncing at the minimum price. In this section, find further information on current timber market prices in PA, including trends, reports, and outlook.