Five experts discuss the current cedar situation

IAEDAR is one softwood with a Vspecific point of supply but universal demand. Here a panel of leading cedar experts from different corners of the country speak out on the current state of the cedar busiNESS.

Q: How are current cedar sales?

Mike Carlson, vice president, Loth Lumber, Gold Bar, Wa.: Right now, the export market is good and it looks to continue that way. Domestically, tight knot items have stayed fairly level. I suppose dealers want to keep up their inventories for the spring. Activity for December was fairly strong.

(August), and most mills will tell you that with rising log prices, they'll have to raise their prices. But, frankly, log costs will never delermine price. It's all supply and demand. All the mills are going at full production now and, considering shut down and start up costs, they'd rather run and lose money.

Q: Should we expect the steady sales for cedar to continue?

Donny Taylor, general manager, Klumb Forest Products, Mobile. Al.: Western red cedar will always sell real well because of the nature of its properties: its resistance to decay, warping and splitting. It makes it a formidable, viable product in many areas, such as here in Southern Alabama, Southern Mississippi, Soulhern Louisiana and the Panhandle area of Florida.

Q: What cedar products are currently selling well?

Adkins: The key products now are, first, fencing items with dealers gearing up for spring purchasing. And second, 5-l/4 x 6 deckings, because of the extreme shortage last year.

Story at a Glance

Tom Burdge, sales/marketing, C&D Lumber Co., Riddle, Or.: Business has been good since last fall. There wasn't the usual October-to-December seasonal decline. And it should be stable over the next six months at least we're hoping it will.

Q: Wtrat effect will rising costs have?

Terry Adkins, partner, cedar dept., American International Forest Products, Portland, Or.: Currently the cedar market is flat, with no direction. Prices are down slightly from

U.S. cedar specialists discuss the softwood's special prop erties. hotitems. current business trends...comparing different species. .buying tips.

Cerlson: Decking materials have also been very, very strong over here. In fact, there should be shortages again this year. In contrast, common lumber has been slow. but it's probably just the time of year.

Q: eny other cedar products not particularly hot right now?

Michael Bryan, sales manager, Thomas Lumber Co., Cummings, Ga.: In my particular area, cedar siding is not as popular as it has been. In decking, it's more popular, as people seem to be moving away from treated yellow pine. So dimension cedar is up. But demand fluctuates. It's not a trend and certainly not indicative of the South as a whole, just of the Atlanta area right now. Big cities go through cycles. The more traditional brick look is in right now. In the outer areas, it's the more rustic appeal. And in the coastal regions, there are even more wood sidings.

Q: But doesn't distance put cedar at a disadvantage?

Bryan: I disagree. The most common wood in the Southeast right now for construction is spruce from Canada. The only natural product here for siding is cypress, and it's in limited supply and is offensive to use for some. That leaves only redwood and cedar. People used yellow pine when that was all we had; it was clear, center cut, high line pine. But that wood is mostly gone now, so the price would be very high.