Title: The changing structure of the hardwood lumber industry with implications on technology adaptation

Author: Luppold, William; Baumgras, John

Year: 2000

Publication: In: Meyer, Dan A., ed. Proceedings of the twenty-eighth annual hardwood symposium, West Virginia now--the future for the hardwood industry? Memphis, TN. National Hardwood Lumber Association: 89-94.

Abstract: The hardwood sawmilling industry has been changing over the last 50 years as a result of changes in hardwood sawtimber inventory and in the demand for hardwood lumber. In 1950 the industry was composed of numerous individual mills, few of which produced more than 3 million board feet of lumber annually. During this time the furniture industry was the major user of higher-grade hardwood lumber. By the early 1990's both the hardwood sawtimber inventory and lumber production had increased by 50 percent and the industry was dominatedby mills producing more than 5 million board feet per year. Furniture manufacturers remained an important user of hardwood lumber but exports of higher-grade lumber increased dramatically. Changes in the demand for hardwood lumber caused mills to concentrate on producing higher-grade lumber, which in turn, increased the demand for higher-grade sawtimber. The combination of increased demand for higher-grade sawtimber, increasing efficiency in hardwood lumber production, and the competitive nature of the hardwood lumber market has reduced the margin between stumpage and lumber cost. In the 1990's the hardwood industry reacted to these reduced margins by becoming even more efficient. Marketing efficiency has increased as the industry shifted from single mill operations to more multiple mill operations. Production also has increased as more mills used high-tech equipment to boost grade yield and reduce labor costs.