A Bimonthly Market Report
Vol. 28 No. 5
Sep/Oct 2010
Texas Timber Price Trends
Market Overview*
Pine sawlog markets remained slow and
prices were flat to slightly lower. Dry
weather brought price declines for most
timber products in East Texas during September/October 2010.
Statewide pine sawlog prices averaged
$28.36 per ton, 5 percent lower than the
last period. This was 36% higher than the
price a year ago. The average pine sawlog
price was $26.51 per ton for Northeast
Texas and $30.23 per ton for Southeast
Texas during this period.
The average pine pulpwood price declined
16 percent from the last period to $6.31 per
ton, roughly the same level as a year ago.
The average small diameter pine sawlog
(CNS) price was $10.75 per ton, down 6
percent from the last period.
The average hardwood sawlog price was
$28.15 per ton, up 7 percent from the last
period. This was well above the price
($19.18/ton) a year ago.
The average hardwood pulpwood price
dropped 18 percent to $8.06 per ton, still
significantly higher than the price a year
ago.
Mill inventories were filling up as winter approaches. Several reporters showed concerns about the impacts of permanent sawmill closure in Atlanta on the timber market
in the region.
The average prices reported here represent statewide
transactions of 43,032 tons of pine sawlogs, 432,202
tons of pine pulpwood, 76,017 tons of pine CNS,
39,332 tons of mixed hardwood sawlogs, and 70,167
tons of hardwood pulpwood during September/October
2010.
Texas Timber Price Trends
Page 2
Sep/Oct 2010
S t u m p a g e P r i c e s i n Te x a s
Product /Region
Average Price
Last Period
Year Ago
Report
PINE
Sawlogs
$/ton
$/MBF
$/ton
Northeast TX
26.51
220.55
27.93
Southeast TX
30.23
241.82
Statewide
28.36
USFS
Pulpwood
$/MBF
Chg
$/ton
$/MBF
Chg
Number
226.09
-5%
32.09
256.74
-17%
24
34.04
272.34
-11%
20.30
161.07
49%
5
231.35
29.94
241.38
-5%
20.88
165.73
36%
29
**
**
**
**
**
12.53
100.26
**
**
$/ton
$/cord
$/ton
$/cord
Chg
$/ton
$/cord
Chg
Number
Northeast TX
6.86
18.52
6.66
17.98
3%
5.63
15.15
22%
46
Southeast TX
6.10
16.48
8.00
21.59
-24%
6.15
16.61
-1%
37
Statewide
6.31
17.05
7.53
20.33
-16%
6.05
16.34
4%
83
USFS
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
$/ton
$/cord
$/ton
$/cord
Chg
$/ton
$/cord
Chg
Number
Northeast TX
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
Southeast TX
10.72
28.93
**
**
**
10.42
28.13
3%
3
Statewide
10.75
29.04
11.47
-6%
10.42
28.13
3%
4
$/ton
$/MBF
$/ton
Chg
$/ton
$/MBF
Northeast TX
26.13
239.76
25.86
238.19
1%
19.58
181.62
33%
42
Southeast TX
33.32
299.87
30.70
276.28
9%
18.66
167.96
79%
9
Statewide
28.15
256.86
26.32
241.86
7%
19.18
175.57
47%
51
USFS
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
Pulpwood
$/ton
$/cord
$/ton
$/cord
Chg
$/ton
$/cord
Chg
Number
Chip-N-Saw
30.97
HARDWOOD
Mixed Sawlogs
$/MBF
Chg
Number
Northeast TX
6.41
17.96
9.09
25.44
-29%
6.25
17.49
3%
20
Southeast TX
8.59
24.04
9.95
27.86
-14%
4.59
12.85
87%
24
Statewide
8.06
22.56
9.83
27.52
-18%
4.84
13.55
67%
44
USFS
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
1. Stumpage price statistics include gatewood sales. Stumpage prices for gatewood sales are estimated by subtracting cut-and-haul costs, other expenses, and profits provided by reporter.
2. Price is calculated from a specific conversion factor reported for each sale if available; otherwise, the average conversion factors listed on page 4 are
used. MBF = Thousand Board Feet. The DOYLE LOG SCALE is used for board foot measurements.
3. Statewide data excludes U.S. Forest Service sales.
4. ** indicates insufficient sales to report price statistics (less than three sales).
5. Prices listed for previous periods may differ from previously published values because additional data have been received.
6. Price change in percentage is calculated based on price in ton.
7. Extreme outliers from reported data are detected and filtered out based on statistical methods.
8. Price changes are calculated based on price in ton.
Texas Timber Price Trends
Sep/Oct 2010
Page 3
Sawlogs
Pulpwood
$/Ton
$/Ton
20
55
50
P in e
45
Hard wood
40
18
P in e
16
Hard wood
14
35
12
30
10
25
8
20
6
15
4
10
2
5
0
0
S/O
'08
N/D
'08
J/F
'09
M/A
'09
M/J
'09
J/A
'09
S/O
'09
N/D
'09
J/F
'10
M/A
'10
M/J
'10
J/A
'10
S/O
'08
S/O
'10
N'D
'08
J/F
'09
M/J
'09
J/A
'09
S/O
'09
N/D
'09
J/F
'10
M/A
'10
M/J
'10
J/A
'10
S/O
'10
Historical Statewide Sawlog Prices
$/MBF-Doyle
600
Pine
500
Har dwood
400
300
200
100
0
J/A '85
J/A '87
J/A '89
J/A '91
J/A '93
J/A '95
J/A '97
J/A '99
J/A '01
J/A '03
J/A '05
J/A '07
J/A '09
J/A '03
J/A '05
J/A '07
J/A '09
Historical Statewide Pulpwood Prices
$/cord
50
45
Pine
40
Hardwood
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
J/A '85
J/A '87
J/A '89
J/A '91
J/A '93
J/A '95
J/A '97
J/A '99
J/A '01
Note: A gap in the chart means less than 3 sales were reported and no price statistics were compiled.
For chart data, please go to http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/article.aspx?id=145.
Texas Timber Price Trends
Texas Timber Price Trends is a bimonthly publication reporting average
prices paid for standing timber in Texas.
This report is intended only as a guide
to general price levels. Individuals interested in buying and selling timber can use this report to monitor
market trends and get a general idea of what timber is worth.
However, it should not be used to judge the fair market value of a
specific timber sale, which may vary considerably due to many
factors.
HOW ARE AVERAGE PRICES CALCULATED?
Data published in this report are from actual timber sales as
reported by as many as 60 cooperators active in the East Texas
timber market. Reporters include forest product companies,
logging contractors, consulting foresters, family forest landowners,
financial institutions, and federal agencies.
The prices are volume weighted average prices. The price
per ton for each product category is as reported or using a specific
conversion factor provided by the reporters. When a specific
conversion factor for each sale is not available, an average
conversion factor listed here is used instead.
Page 4
VOLUME CONVERSION FACTORS
Sawlogs & Chip-N-Saw
Pine— 8 tons=1 MBF-Doyle
Pine CNS— 2.7 tons= 1 Cord
Hardwood— 9 tons= 1 MBF-Doyle
Pulpwood
Pine— 2.7 tons=1 Cord
Hardwood— 2.8 tons= 1 Cord
This publication is also available on the Texas Forest
Service website at:
http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/article.aspx?id=145
WANT TO BE A REPORTER?
If you are active in the East Texas timber market, please
consider becoming a cooperating price reporter. You will receive
report forms bi-monthly with a self-return envelope. In addition, you
will receive a hard copy of the report in exchange for your price
information.
Texas Forest Service
301 Tarrow, Suite 364
College Station, TX 77840-7896
Sep/Oct 2010