KD edging out green

29 August 2014


Traders in the US report a swing toward green Douglas fir rather than dry stock in the face of rising freight costs, according to newsletter Random Lengths.

The spread between green and dry has steadily eroded during the summer from a premium of US$100 to about US$30 as the cost of shipping allows traders to deliver the lighter dry fir at a lower cost than green.

Popularity for KD has failed to push up prices because more mills have added kilns to meet demand.

“Green fir is becoming more and more a speciality item. Potential mould issues, big-box demand for KD products, competition with Canada and shelf life questions are pushing more and more production into KD,” a mill spokesperson said.