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Hardwood Lumber Price History

Alder is a specialty product. This distinction between Douglas Fir and Hemlock, which are commodity products, and Alder, a specialty product, is why Alder prices have increased over the past 10 years while Douglas Fir and Hemlock prices decline.

Alder commercially grows only in the Pacific Northwest. Resource Managers have the opportunity to grow a product that will not have competition from other countries with less expensive management and harvest costs.

As the chart illustrates, the price histories of Cherry, Hard Maple, White Oak and Alder illustrate steady price increases.

In fact, these price increases are higher, in most cases, than the Consumer Price Index increase.

The reason for the higher prices of these species is they are specialty products used in high value furniture, cabinets, moldings, etc., that an ever-wealthier world consumer is willing to pay for.