Clemson Extension Forestry and Wildlife

Pine and Hardwood Stumpage Price Trends in South Carolina Q1’23

Pulpwood Stumpage Trends: In the first quarter of 2023, statewide pine pulpwood stumpage prices averaged $11.29/ton, while the average hardwood rates were $8.81/ton in South Carolina. It is a dramatic decline in pulpwood prices from the first quarter of last year – pine and hardwood pulpwood stumpages were selling above $14/ton in the first quarter of 2022. Hardwood stumpage prices have declined more than pulpwood prices from the last quarter. Hardwood prices declined by 19%, while pine stumpage declined by less than 2% from the prices in the fourth quarter of 2022 (Q4’22).

Graph of S.C. Statewide Pulpwood Stumpage Price Trends. Q1'23 Pine Pulpwood $11.29/ton and Hardwood Pulpwood $8.81/ton. This is a decrease from last quarter.
Graph of S.C. statewide pulpwood stumpage price trends. Credit: Puskar Khanal, Clemson University.

Sawtimber Stumpage Trends: Like pulpwood trees, sawtimber stumpage prices also declined in South Carolina. The statewide pine sawtimber prices were $22.46/ton, while mixed hardwood trees sold at $21.60/ton in the first quarter of 2023. Compared with prices in the last quarter, it is a decline of about 5% for both pine and hardwood trees. Stumpage prices for pine and mixed hardwood trees in South Carolina have declined by 9% and 10%, respectively, from the prices in the first quarter of 2022 (Q1’22).

Recent declines in both the lumber market and new housing trends due to uncertain economic environments – higher interest rates, higher inflationary pressure, and market uncertainty with the possibility of a recession in late 2023, could be attributed to a sharp downturn in the stumpage market trends from the last year. The housing market has recently seen a significant slowdown.    

Graph of S.C. Statewide Sawtimber Stumpage Price Trends. Q1'23 Pine Sawtimber $22.46/ton and Mixed Hardwood Sawtimber $21.60/ton. This is a decrease from last quarter.
Graph of S.C. statewide sawtimber stumpage price trends. Credit: Puskar Khanal, Clemson University.

Data credit: The sawtimber and pulpwood price data included in this newsletter are published with permission from TimberMart-South Athens, GA 30605 email tmart@timbermart-south.com.

Author(s)

Puskar Khanal, Cooperative Extension, Forestry and Wildlife Specialist

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