The Lumber Word
Three Lumber Industry veterans talk about the weekly, monthly and yearly trends. What is going on with inventory in the field, production and distribution. We help educate everyone in the distribution chain with information most like to not talk about. Highlighted items that are overvalued and undervalued are also discussed. Guests in the industry will occasionally drop in to help us dial in some lumber details. Most important is we have fun talking lumber and our listeners love it.
Episodes

Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
In Episode #90 of "The Lumber Word Podcast," Gregg, Matt, and Ashley dive deep into the current lumber market, debating whether we're at the peak or just getting started. The team discusses the velocity and strength of the truck market, as well as historically low inventory levels. Are mills sitting on a lot of dressed inventory, or are buyers overextending by purchasing extra trucks? With short orders popping up in the cash market, the crew explores whether these moves make sense. Tune in to hear their insights and what you should be doing over the next 4-6 weeks to stay ahead.

Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
In this episode, we're excited to have Russ Taylor from Russ Taylor Global joining us! We kick things off by chatting about his upcoming event, the Global Wood Summit, happening this October 29-30. And guess what? The Lumber Word will be doing a live podcast right from the event! Go to www.globalwoodsummit.com for the details.
Today, we dive into the latest market trends from the past 30-60 days. We explore why so many lumber buyers are still playing it safe as prices climb higher. How much North American production has slowed down, and what can we expect going forward? We also break down the current cost of production and what the new Canadian lumber duty means for today and next year.
Tune in to get the inside scoop and maybe even gain the edge you need in this shifting market!

Wednesday Aug 14, 2024
Wednesday Aug 14, 2024
In this episode, we welcome Joe Pepe from LMC to help us break down the current state of the lumber market. We dive into where we stand in the lumber cycle—is supply finally catching up with demand? Matt highlights the differences between the 2x4 market and 2x6 and wider, while we discuss key indicators to watch for in the upcoming housing starts report. We also explore how lean end users are keeping their inventories and share insights from our own business dealings.
We ponder how far this lumber market can continue to rise and what surprises might be on the horizon. Plus, we touch on the growing trend of builders asking their suppliers for longer-price locks. This episode is packed with valuable insights and plenty of fun along the way!

Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Thursday Aug 08, 2024
In this week's episode of "The Lumber Word," we are joined by Charles DeLaTorre, owner of Industrial Forest Products. Get ready for a lively discussion as we challenge each other on why the lumber market moved over the past month. What did we see that others missed? And more importantly, will it continue?
Charles dives into Southern Yellow Pine (SYP), providing insights that are sure to expand your understanding. We also tackle the topic of potential bad paper in the forward cash market and examine how mills have been rationalizing capacity without alerting the trading market. It's an episode packed with valuable insights and predictions about where the market is headed. Tune in for an entertaining and informative session!

Thursday Aug 01, 2024
Thursday Aug 01, 2024
In this episode of "The Lumber Word," Matt, Gregg, and Ashley dive into the recent lows in lumber pricing and discuss the recent strength of the past three weeks. With some commodity funds buying back short CME positions, the big question is whether this trend will continue or if they will shift gears again.
Why is there so much negativity in the market, and what does it mean for the future? Our hosts give their honest predictions and provide a thorough analysis of the current market sentiment. Supply is still trying to match up with demand—has it finally done enough?
Notably, some prices have already recovered up to $80 MBF off the bottom trade price. Could we see a rally of $100+ MBF, or might we fall back to the cost of production? Join us to hear the latest insights and predictions on the market's direction!
Tune in to Episode #86 to stay ahead of the curve in the lumber industry!

Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
In this week's episode of The Lumber Word, we’re joined by Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist for First Trust. Brian shares his expert analysis of the housing market, discussing interest rates, housing supply, and what economic signals mean for the future of housing. He also weighs in on whether we’re in a recession and offers predictions for the prices of new and existing homes. Tune in for this insightful conversation and stay ahead in the housing sector!
For more insights from Brian, visit First Trust and sign up for their free newsletter.

Wednesday Jul 17, 2024
Wednesday Jul 17, 2024
In this episode of "The Lumber Word," Matt, Gregg, and Ashley are all back together to dive deep into the current lumber market. Matt kicks it off with an engaging update about last week's mood at the Inland golf outing. Gregg follows up with a detailed breakdown of today's housing starts data, providing valuable insights for our listeners. The team then takes a comprehensive look at the market, analyzing supply and demand trends. Plus, did Ashley call a bottom in lumber? Tune in to find out! We wrap up the episode with a fun segment of marry, date, or dump, which we haven't done in a while.

Thursday Jul 11, 2024
Thursday Jul 11, 2024
In this episode, we're joined by Dustin Jalbert, Senior Economist at Wood Products Fastmarkets RISI, to unravel the current zeitgeist of the lumber market. Ever wonder what's going on with supply and demand? We've got you covered as we dive deep into consumption and production figures. We also share our projections for the housing market through the rest of 2024 and into 2025. Plus, we'll update you on the ongoing US/Canada cross-border lumber dispute. If you want to get a true feel for the pulse of the lumber world, this is the episode you can't miss!

Thursday Jul 04, 2024
Thursday Jul 04, 2024
In Episode #82 of "The Lumber Word," we welcome back Charles DeLaTorre to dive deep into the Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) market, along with all other traded species. With four consecutive down months, we explore whether we've hit the bottom or if there's more to come. The crew breaks down the market structure, examining who's long, who's short, and who's potentially thriving or struggling.
To understand past market behaviors, we delve into the physical lumber market and analyze a fascinating chart of housing starts since the 1960s. As we wrap up, we offer hope and actionable ideas for navigating these turbulent times. Tune in to become smarter, more informed, and dapper. Don't miss this insightful episode!

Thursday Jun 27, 2024
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
In this episode of "The Lumber Word," the team is joined by a special guest, Earl Heath, head analyst from Madison's Lumber Reporter. Together, we dive deep into the lumber industry's looming challenges this year. Are prices ever going to rise? Are production costs as high as producers claim? What will be the tipping point for change?
We explore these pressing questions and more, providing our listeners with insights into what we see and feel as we look ahead to 2024. Tune in for an engaging and informative discussion on the current state and future of the lumber market.