South Carolina Pulpwood Prices Continue Downward Trend: In the second quarter of 2025, South Carolina’s statewide average prices for pine and hardwood pulpwood were $5.5 per ton and $6.3 per ton, respectively. Compared to the first quarter of 2025, these prices reflect declines of 18% for pine and 4% for hardwood pulpwood. The pine pulpwood price, falling below $6 per ton, marks one of the lowest levels recorded in recent years. In contrast, hardwood pulpwood experienced only a modest decline and has returned to price levels last seen two years ago. Overall, both pine and hardwood pulpwood prices were at their lowest this quarter compared to the previous three quarters, continuing a downward trend that has persisted through much of the past year.
South Carolina Sawtimber Prices Decline, Hardwood Prices Drop Sharply: In the second quarter of 2025, South Carolina’s statewide average prices for pine and hardwood sawtimber were $21.8 per ton and $16.2 per ton, respectively. Compared to the previous quarter, pine sawtimber prices declined by 6%, while hardwood sawtimber prices experienced a sharper drop of over 15%. Pine stumpage prices have remained relatively stable over the past two years, fluctuating between $21 and $24 per ton. In contrast, hardwood sawtimber prices have shown more volatility, ranging between $16 to $26 per ton during the same period. Since the fourth quarter of 2024, hardwood sawtimber has consistently sold for less than pine, and that gap has continued to widen in early 2025. This growing price disparity underscores the ongoing market challenges facing hardwood producers in the state.
Wood Market is Local: Stumpage prices for both sawtimber and pulpwood in your local markets could vary significantly as compared to the above statewide averages, depending on: size and species composition, quality of timber, total acres and volume, logging operability, distance from nearby mills, and overall market condition.
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.
Industry Update – New Sawmill Coming in Allendale, South Carolina: Hampton Lumber, a fourth-generation, family-owned sustainable building materials company based in Oregon, has announced a $225 million investment to establish its first East Coast sawmill in Allendale County, South Carolina. The new 375,000-square-foot facility in Fairfax will produce Southern Yellow Pine framing lumber and is expected to create at least 125 new jobs, with operations beginning in 2027. Supported by state and local partners, Hampton Lumber’s expansion reflects growing confidence in South Carolina’s forestry sector and sustainable timber resources.
Author(s)
Puskar Khanal, Cooperative Extension, Forestry and Wildlife Specialist
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